A great list

By Graham Richard —

This year the communities of Gaaw and HlGaagilda celebrated the Haida Nation’s Grade-12 graduates. Special ceremonies at the Old Massett Community Hall and the George Brown Recreation Centre honoured them for their achievements. Many are already moving on to start their post-secondary educations, and graduates from years gone by are returning to Haida Gwaii with post-secondary credentials.

“Our ancestors bring us many examples of how they learned from these islands that we call home,” said youth advocate and President of the Haida Nation kil tlaats ’gaa Peter Lantin). “When we are watching our children, we can see that gift in our young people today. At this year’s Youth Assembly in Gaaw it was clear that many are already doing great things. For millennia, our children have ventured forth and made significant accomplishments, and in turn our young people today will create their own legacy to honour all those who come after us.”

What follows is a list of Haidas who have graduated since July 2014. Please respond with photos of Haida graduates!

If you know of anyone who should be added to this list, please send us their name so they can be acknowledged for their achievement. We would also be happy to include more Haida names, information about where our graduates studied, and details about their new credentials.

GRADE TWELVE GRADUATES

Dzogm Swa’ana Carol Ridley

Kuun Jaad Adeana Young

Dapjuu Awaay Jordan Pollard

Georgia Bennett

Gabriele Jones

Stephanie Stevens

Kayla Davis

Elijah Washington

Melody Williams

Hailey Bennett

Kurrah Hill

Jesse Barnes

Ronald Goetzinger

Courtney Moody

Tianna Russ

Jonathan Parnell

Megan Turner

Tiffany Fletcher

OFF-ISLAND GRADE TWELVE GRADUATES

Yaahlee Tajaahl Isdatlaang Rhiannon Marks – Charles Hayes Secondary School, Prince Rupert

Xyaahl Koyaas Chasedy Young – Charles Hayes Secondary School, Prince Rupert

Kil Hltaanuwaay Tayler Brown – Delta Senior Secondary School

Gyaaxa Kiana Brown – Delta Senior Secondary School

Isda Gaay.ya Jessica Gladstone – Shawnigan Lake Boarding School, Victoria

Xanjuu Gwang Chelsea Gladstone – Frances Kelsey Secondary School, Victoria

Mary Naden Lewis – School West High School, Anchorage AK

Hannah Brown – Prince Rupert Secondary School, Prince Rupert

Drake Smith – Woodlands Secondary School, Nanaimo

Skyler Alexcee – Duchess Park High School, Prince George

Damon Yeomans – Britannia Secondary, Vancouver

Krystal Bell – Dogwood, City Central Learning Center, Surrey

Jesse Lawrence Louie; Heritage High School, Tulalip WA

Robert Flett

Luke Terry

POST-SECONDARY PROGRAMS, CERTIFICATES and TRADES 

Ryan Moore – completed RCMP training

Robert Bennett – Commercial Scuba Diving Certificate and Nitrox Dive certificate, DiveSafe International

Brandon Kallio – Commercial Scuba Diving Certificate and Restricted Surface Air Supply Dive Certification, DiveSafe International

Jesse Williams – Commercial Scuba Diving Certificate and Restricted Surface Air Supply Dive Certification, DiveSafe International

Aaron Collison – Commercial Scuba Diving Certificate and Restricted Surface Air Supply Dive Certificate, DiveSafe International

James Fregin –  Commercial Dive Tender Certificate and Restricted Surface Air Supply Dive Certificate, DiveSafe International

Shaun Edgars –  Nitrox Dive Certificate and Restricted Surface Air Supply Dive Certificate, DiveSafe International

Aaron Edgars – Restricted Surface Air Supply Dive Certification, DiveSafe International

Skyler Bolton-Brown – Restricted Surface Air Supply Dive Certificate, DiveSafe International

Laura Bell –  Community and Family Counseling, Vancouver Community College

Shelley Samuels –  Associate of Arts

Cooper Wilson Jr –  Sport Medicine

Alfie Davidson 4th –  First Nation Fine Art

Edward Smith – Red Seal

Noel Bellis–  Red Seal

Kayla – Health Unit Coordinator

Toney Coffey – Journeyman’s Certificate in Carpentry, College of New Caledonia, Prince George

DIPLOMAS

Xay Kuyaas (Ariane Medley) –  Diploma in Aboriginal Ecotourism, from Vancouver Island University and North Island College

Franklin Alexcee – Recreation Leadership Diploma, Langara College, Vancouver

Hailey Chapman – Diploma in Legal Administration, Douglas College, New Westminster

Mary Hart –  Diploma in Fish, Wildlife, and Recreation

BACHELORS

O’ot Hyagen Corey Brown –  Bachelor of Civil Engineering, Lakehead University, Thunder Bay ON

Sgaan Jáat Starla Agoney –  Bachelor in Elementary Education, cum laude and with an Outstanding Graduate Award, University of Alaska Southeast, Ketchikan AK

Sgidgang.xaal Shoshannah Greene –  Bachelor of Media Arts majoring in Animation, Emily Carr University, Vancouver

Xylang Jaad Xylaa Leslie Brown –  Graduate Certificate in Strategic Human Resources Management, Royal Roads University

Guudangaay Kii Dayna Page –  Bachelor of Science, University of Northern BC, Prince George

Duunee kuun iiwaans Joshua McLeod – Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science, University of Northern BC

Roger Harris Smith – Bachelor’s of Arts in Firsts Nations Studies with a Minor in Political Science, the University of Northern BC and the University of Victoria

Caroline Parnell – Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, University of British Columbia

Jessie Newman – Bachelor of Science in Food Nutrition and Health majoring in Dietetics

Megan Dorrington – Bachelor of Arts, University of Victoria

Tanya Wick – Bachelor of Health Sciences

Vanessa Fladmark – Bachelor of Science

Iloradanon Efimoff – Bachelor of Arts (Honours)

Stephanie Watkins –  Bachelor of Arts

Cora Parnell –  Bachelor of Education

MASTERS

Kwiigee Monica Brown – Master’s in Leadership specializing in Non-Profits, Trinity Western University

Othgaljad Patricia Moore – Master’s in Business Administration from Simon Fraser University and a Project Management Graduate Certificate from Royal Roads University

Jared Casey – Master’s in Business Administration, University of BC

Monica Kelly – Master’s of Social Work

Wendy Simon – Master’s of Social Work

DOCTORATES

K’ah Skaahluwaa Wendy F Smythe –  Ph.D in Environmental Science: Estuary and Ocean Systems, Oregon Health & Science University – Portland, Oregon

Skidegate graduates stand before their relatives and guests. Photo: Graham Richard

Skidegate graduates show their clan crests. Photo: Graham Richard

Old Massett graduates gather on the stands for a photo op. Photo: Zarchary Grosse