Indigenous students celebrated in Honouring Ceremony

Posted on Monday, April 28th, 2025

Indigenous potential graduates from the Ottawa-area post-secondary institutions, including Algonquin College, were celebrated on Friday,Indigenous students attend Indigenous graduation ceremony on April 25. April 25 during the 17th annual Indigenous Graduate Honouring Ceremony held at La Cité. The featured Indigenous guest speakers, ceremonial drumming and cultural performances.

Community dignitaries included Reepa Carleton (Inuit), and Veda Wesalake (Métis). All offered words of wisdom to the potential graduates. The SpiritWolf Singers provided an opening song, closing song and honour song for graduates during the ceremony. The celebrations saw a traditional Hoop Dance performed by Makhena Rankin. Dr. Kahente Horn-Miller and Darren Sutherland acted as the Masters of Ceremonies for the event.

The Ceremony celebrated over 50 potential graduates from the Ottawa area, with over 20 of them being from Algonquin College, representing a variety of programs and nations. Anita Tenasco, Director of Indigenous Initiatives, gave them words of inspiration before they crossed the stage. Potential graduates received a hand-made seal skin gift made by Trudy Metcalfe-Co to celebrate their education journey.

The event featured two student keynote speakers- potential graduates nominated by their peers. Shayna Shawongonabe, a Applied Museum Studies Student at Algonquin College, as well as Carissa Coe of Carleton University both took to the stage to offer inspiring words to offer inspiring words for their fellow graduates.

Mígwech to our partner institutions (Carleton University, La Cité and the University of Ottawa), all honoured guests, graduates and their families for coming out to show their support for Indigenous students.


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