The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
To the smiles of men like Steve Ballantyne, Ordean Goulet, Paul Ballentyne, Johnny Walker and many others, the dream of developing an Indian Social Work Program for the Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation (PBCN) was realized and came to fruition when 20 out of the 23 students that registered for the course two years ago, graduated on Friday June 25, 2004. The ceremony took place at the Napoleon Merasty Memorial Arena in Pelican Narrows. Congratulations to the dreamers, the graduates and to their families who had to sacrifice so that mom, or in one case dad, could go to school. The arena was decorated in traditional Native symbols such as the feather, which is a symbol of completing a difficult task (that's a feather in his/her hat! Thus the Indian Chiefs get to wear the huge feather headdress because he has endured many trials and tribulations). There were dream catchers, teepees and other symbols of decoration on the individual graduate's family table as well as on the ceiling and walls of the arena. The grad ceremony began with the playing of the drums and chanting as each graduate was escorted through a teepee-like structure up to the head table. Many of the graduates were attired in beautiful traditional gowns and some even had on white leather beaded slippers. See 'Grads' P.# Con't from P.# The graduates were: Della Ballantyne (DL), Myrtle Ballantyne (PN), Sally Beatty (PN), Jennifer Bird (SE), Alvina F. Charles (PN), Sylvia Clarke (SE), Verna Dorion (PN), Myrna Ewing (DB), Maria Gardiner (PN), Bernadette Hillier (DB), Patricia Gunville McCallum (PN), Carol Merasty (PN), Cecile Merasty (PN), Mary Jane Merasty (PN), Crystal Michel (PN), Betty Sewap (PN), Rose Skeavington (SB), Mary Jane Thomas (PN), Velita Whitbred (FF) and Melville Linklater (PN). After the congratulatory letters were read from Chief Ron Michel, Grand Chief Gary Merasty and MLA Joan Beatty Ð who were unable to attend Ð Paul Ballantyne brought greetings and congratulations from Northland's College; Kathy McMullin brought greetings and congratulations from First Nations University of Canada; Johnny Walker represented the Certificate of Indian Social Work Committee and the Post Secondary Education of PBCN and spoke offering congratulations; Steve Ballantyne who is the director of Social Development also said a few words. Then the graduates went to don their caps and gowns. They returned to the drummers' chant and were presented with their certificates. After the presentations, Melville Linklater, the lone male in the class, gave a toast to the men, Chief and Council, while Alvina Charles responded with a toast to the women, First Nation's University of Canada, University of Regina, Northland's College and Peter Ballantyne Child and Family Services. A sumptuous banquet followed in which everyone had a choice of traditional meal including fish, duck, bannock, wild rice soup, ribs or chicken with blueberry pie or a hot turkey supper with all the trimmings and blueberry cheesecake. Whatever a person chose, it was delicious. This graduation ceremony was a wonderful event and the feeling of accomplishment, satisfaction and hope permeated the air. The Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation is beginning to take back control of their own! For a more detailed write up and pictures of the beautiful gowns and decorations watch for a future edition of Cottage North.
