Nuu-chah-nulth Nations were well represented among the 42 graduates of the Vast and Choices Distributed Learning programs who were celebrated at the Capitol Theatre on the evening of June 13.
The First Nations grads included young adults who overcame hurdles to resume their education, and even one grandmother who is already pursuing post-secondary education. Significantly, there were also students from remote communities who accessed the Choices program to get courses that were otherwise unavailable.
Tom McEvay, who retired as Vast principal last year, said it speaks to how the program has evolved since he took over in 1997, with a mandate to “do a better job with high-risk youth.”
“It’s been a change from an ‘alternative school’ to ‘alternative programs,’” McEvay said. “Now, we don’t tell someone they’re an ‘alternative’ student.”
See more photos at the bottom of this report.
In 1997, there were 150 students in the program. This year, it was 1,500, spread among the various programs. McEvay said the school district has had great success locally, working with Tseshaht and Hupacasath First Nations, and has also extended its outreach to the wider Nuu-chah-nulth community.
“We started adding satellite centres, and eventually, we had satellite centres in Hesquiaht and Hot Springs Cove, in Opitsat, Long Beach and all the way down to Anacla, Bamfield and Ditidaht.”
Current Vast principal Peter Klaver said the result has been a tremendous boost in graduation rates for aboriginal students. The number of students who graduate by age 18 has grown markedly, but the grad rate is even more impressive when you factor in the young First Nations adults who resume their studies following any number of life’s interruptions.
Klaver said many of these young people come to realize they need to complete their Grade 12 for virtually any future training program. And that is where Vast/Choices fits in, he said.
“We’re transitioning kids and adults into all kinds of programs, not just university. North Island College has some fabulous programs for our students. Graduation is simply one step into life.”
Vast vice-principal David Maher, who served three years as principal at the K-12 Ditidaht Community School, emceed the event, which had the theme, Dare to Dream.
“For each individual, graduation means something different, but the unifying piece is that they dared to dream,” Maher said. “They have made graduation a piece of their dream.”
Filling in for Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council President Cliff Atleo, Simon Read said education is “extremely important” to the tribal council.
“A few generations ago, if you didn’t fit into the system, you were just sort of slid aside,” Read said.
Since those days, the NTC has worked in close cooperation with School District 70 to create a system that fits the student rather than the other way around, he said. Read likened education to climbing a mountain.
“Tonight, all these graduates are at the top of a mountain. They didn’t get there alone,” he said, adding that NTC’s education worker Diane Gallic and NTC’s education supervisor Eileen Haggard have been key figures in the Vast support network.
But the quest doesn’t end with graduation, Read reminded the grads.
“You now have a tremendous view of where you came from, and you can also see other mountains; maybe one day you’ll climb those.”
Representing Hupacasath First Nation, Nene Kraneveldt reinforced that message. Kraneveldt acknowledged that many of the students had overcome serious social issues – poverty, addictions, inadequate housing – prior to completing their studies.
“But these issues didn’t define you. They challenged you,” she said. “My dream is that you can pay it forward. We need you guys to help our children, our youth, our families and our elders. We need you to help rebuild our communities. We need to look at you as role models, as change-agents.”
By Vast tradition, each grad had the opportunity to address the audience. Most thanked family and staff, some briefly, some at greater length. Tseshaht member Valerie Cartlidge drew cheers with her simple but heartfelt turn at the podium.
“Two years ago, I never thought I’d be here, but here I am,” she said, thanking her parents, before adding, “Despite all the fights and arguments, I am here.”
Toquaht member Joey Williams singled out two specific Vast staff members for their very specific contributions to his study program.
“I’d like to thank my adviser, Lisa [Freyer], for waking me up every morning for school, and Suzanne [Salmon, youth care worker], for making school cool – and my mom.”
Tseshaht member Doug Watts said that, along with his own parents and family, he was inspired by the young moms in the program. That’s because he is himself a parent.
“If there was one thing that kept me going, it was the thought of my daughter growing up and saying, ‘I graduated. How come you didn’t?’” he said.
Later in the evening, Doug’s father Aaron was called onstage to congratulate his son.
“There are some great people who have come through his life and touched him,” he said.
Watts said he had planned to present Doug with a paddle he had himself received years ago at a potlatch, “But you caught me by surprise. It’s still out in the car.” By the time the group photo session took place, Doug had the precious paddle in hand.
For two Tla-o-qui-aht members, mutual parenthood was the chief driving force in completing their education.
Chancellor Frank singled out advisor Des Reddick for special thanks.
“He pushed me. A lot. And I thank him,” he said. “I’d also like to thank my girlfriend, Mercedes Brown – she pushed me out of bed. And I thank my son. If it weren’t for him, I probably wouldn’t be here. I’d probably be at home, watching TV and being lazy.”
Later, Brown said she also needed an occasional boost to keep going.
“I just want to say thank you so much to my mom for pushing me. Thank you to Nick [advisor Seredick] – if it hadn’t been for that kayaking trip… a month ago, I didn’t think I was going to make it.
“My boyfriend Chance[ellor]. And most of all, my son. That’s why I needed to do this.”
Another Tla-o-qui-aht member, Ann Barker, will now serve as an inspiration and role model for students of all ages. Barker thanked her children and grandchildren for their support, along with family and Vast staff, for all their support.
“I would like to encourage anybody who has dropped out of school, that it is never too late to go back. Raising my four children, I always told them how important it was to have Grade 12, without even realizing that I never had my own Grade 12. Now I can tell my grandchildren I have my Grade 12.”
Barker isn’t stopping there. She is already enrolled at North Island College in the Health Care Assistant program.
Nona Marchand, who won one of the four Vast/Choices bursaries, completed her schooling in 12 years. She was one of three students, including Ashlee Johnston and Darci Edgar, who commuted from Nitinat each Friday for courses through Choices. She credited former Ditidaht Community School principal Maher with promoting that opportunity.
“I came out from Nitinat to get some extra help. Dave is a friend of the family and he always advised me to go there. [The community school] doesn’t have all the courses to offer, so I would usually do Independent Learning online.”
Marchand has been accepted at Vancouver Island University and is now making plans to relocate to Nanaimo.
To cap off the ceremony, Diane Gallic presented Maher, who is transferring to Alberni District Secondary School next fall, with a drum crafted by Josh Prescott Shaw. The drum depicts both the hummingbird and the wolf.
“These drawings are so representative of you, Dave,” Gallic said, explaining, “Strength, endurance and passion. Kleco Kleco.”
