Aamjiwnaang First Nation celebrates student achievement while embracing a new normal

By Joel Piché

AAMJIWNAANG FIRST NATION— It was August 25, the air was wet, the sun was scorching, and the COVID-19 pandemic lingering; but that wasn’t enough to stop Aamjiwnaang First Nation from ensuring every last one of their students’ achievements were recognized at their annual awards event.

As a new member of the Aamjiwnaang Education Department, I was unsure of what to expect. I’d heard rumours that August was our busiest month of the year, but I was skeptical. “How could August be our busiest month when students are not even back in school yet?”, I thought. As it turns out, planning the recognition of hundreds of students’ individual achievements is time-consuming, but well worth it.

Aamjiwnaang’s annual awards banquet looked a little bit different this year. In the past, the event was held indoors, banquet style. Students and their families would sit facing a stage while community leaders would call them up by name and present them with their awards.

This year, the event was held outdoors in a walk-through style. Students and their families were able to pass through a series of stations where they could pick up their award, receive a backpack stuffed with supplies, view a televised pre-recorded message from our community leaders, fill up on free barbeque, and last but not least, top it all off with a treat from the ice cream stand.

In spite of the intense weather and hurdles from the pandemic, not one staff or volunteer could be seen without a smile on their face. A little heat is a small sacrifice to make in recognizing our future leaders.

The community recognizes achievement in attendance, grades, effort, graduation, and the Anishinaabemowin language. The broad range of award categories helps encourage students with different strengths to put their best foot forward and feel included. This year’s awards included cash, gift cards, and a brand-new lime green BMX bicycle.

The awards are not just about handing out cash or gift cards, but about making sure all Aamjiwnaang students know that their achievements mean something. There is a community behind them, and we know the more they feel that the more successful they’ll be.

This year’s guest list included community leaders such as Chief Chris Plain, members of the Aamjiwnaang Education Committee, as well as representatives from local industry. Guests were able to greet and congratulate students as they made their way through the event, giving plenty of encouragement and valuable networking opportunities.

Local industry such as Shell, Suncor, and more, offer a variety of bursaries to our students based largely in the STEM fields, or science, technology, engineering, and math. This is due in part to their interest in increasing First Nations representation in the STEM-related occupations, as well as their occupation of traditional Aamjiwnaang land.

Participation from both community leaders and local industry at our student awards event tells us something; regardless of the past, conflicts, or disagreements, we are all willing to put it aside for a day to celebrate our students.

“Moving forward, our community will continue to recognize the achievements of our students and encourage other communities and institutions to do the same. The youth of today are the Elders of tomorrow, and we are here to guide them on that journey,” says Vicki Ware, Aamjiwnaang’s Education Coordinator.

Together we hope this event marks the first steps toward a new normal for our community; where we can congregate happily, freely, and safely.