Six Aboriginal role models stand on blankets in the longhouse 2019 Aboriginal Role Model Honouring
news

2019 Aboriginal Role Models Honoured at Traditional Ceremony

May 3, 2019

Sumas First Nation generously invited the Abbotsford School District to hold a celebration of student success and Halq’emeylem in their longhouse on May 3, 2019. Over 600 students and staff, leaders from the First Nation and the Fraser Valley Métis Association joined together to celebrate 6 worthy Aboriginal grade 12 scholarship recipients and recognize them as the district's 2019 Aboriginal Role Models. These students were selected for their cultural pride, school success, leadership and service in their communities. 

The traditional ceremony included witnesses, mothers and special women from the community laying blankets to prepare the floor and receivers who participated in this special ceremony. The Aboriginal Role Model students were held up for their commitment to learning, school success, extra curricular involvement, leadership and community service.

The 2019 Aboriginal Role Models include:

  • Marcie Pruden from Bakerview Centre for Learning, who has been an incredible advocate for youth and has already coordinated conferences and plans to become a counsellor;
  • Odyn Mulder from the Abbotsford School of Integrated Arts, who has a passion for music and will be attending UVIC to study music;
  • Aiden Silver from Yale Secondary, who has plans to continue to study Hal’qeméylem at UFV and plans to join the Abbotsford School District as a support worker;
  • Tyra Jones from Yale Secondary, who has displayed kindness and leadership in her school and plans to pursue a career in law and as an advocate for women’s rights;
  • Jalen Edwards from Abbotsford Senior, who displays kindness and respect on the basketball court and in his school and will be pursuing a degree in political science; and
  • Faith Madden from Abbotsford Senior, who loves fine arts and theatre and plans to continue to learn about and live her Métis culture.

A day of gratitude and inspiration as we celebrate these accomplishments. Congratulations to the Abbotsford School District's 2019 Aboriginal Role Models!

2019 Aboriginal Role Model Honouring at the longhouse
2019 Aboriginal Role Model Honouring at the longhouse
2019 Aboriginal Role Model Honouring at the longhouse
2019 Aboriginal Role Model Honouring at the longhouse
2019 Aboriginal Role Model Honouring at the longhouse
2019 Aboriginal Role Model Honouring at the longhouse
2019 Aboriginal Role Model Honouring at the longhouse
2019 Aboriginal Role Model Honouring at the longhouse
2019 Aboriginal Role Model Honouring at the longhouse
2019 Aboriginal Role Model Honouring at the longhouse
2019 Aboriginal Role Model Honouring at the longhouse
2019 Aboriginal Role Model Honouring at the longhouse
2019 Aboriginal Role Model Honouring at the longhouse
2019 Aboriginal Role Model Honouring at the longhouse
2019 Aboriginal Role Model Honouring at the longhouse
2019 Aboriginal Role Model Honouring at the longhouse
2019 Aboriginal Role Model Honouring at the longhouse
2019 Aboriginal Role Model Honouring at the longhouse
2019 Aboriginal Role Model Honouring at the longhouse
2019 Aboriginal Role Model Honouring at the longhouse
2019 Aboriginal Role Model Honouring at the longhouse
2019 Aboriginal Role Model Honouring at the longhouse
2019 Aboriginal Role Model Honouring at the longhouse
2019 Aboriginal Role Model Honouring at the longhouse
2019 Aboriginal Role Model Honouring at the longhouse
2019 Aboriginal Role Model Honouring at the longhouse
2019 Aboriginal Role Model Honouring at the longhouse
2019 Aboriginal Role Model Honouring at the longhouse
2019 Aboriginal Role Model Honouring at the longhouse
2019 Aboriginal Role Model Honouring at the longhouse
2019 Aboriginal Role Model Honouring at the longhouse
2019 Aboriginal Role Model Honouring at the longhouse
2019 Aboriginal Role Model Honouring at the longhouse
2019 Aboriginal Role Model Honouring at the longhouse
2019 Aboriginal Role Model Honouring at the longhouse
2019 Aboriginal Role Model Honouring at the longhouse
2019 Aboriginal Role Model Honouring at the longhouse
2019 Aboriginal Role Model Honouring at the longhouse
2019 Aboriginal Role Model Honouring at the longhouse
2019 Aboriginal Role Model Honouring at the longhouse
2019 Aboriginal Role Model Honouring at the longhouse
2019 Aboriginal Role Model Honouring at the longhouse