Indigenous Completion Ceremony 2025

Celebrating identity and achievement at the 2025 Indigenous Completion Ceremony

On May 9, the SCFL Atrium was filled with pride, culture, and ceremony as the college honoured graduating Indigenous students.

Led by emcee Lance Scout, the evening began with a Grand Entrance through the Miyo-pimâtisiwin Centre, followed by a land acknowledgement and words of welcome from President and CEO Carolyn Campbell.

“This celebration honours not only your academic success, but also the rich cultural heritage you carry forward,” Carolyn said.

The ceremony featured a series of powerful cultural performances, including First Nations drummers and dancers, Inuit throat singers, and a Métis dancer to the music of a fiddler.

NorQuest’s commitment to Indigenization was a central theme throughout the evening. Carolyn spoke about the college’s journey—one shaped by the Cree principle of wahkôhtowin, the belief that everything is connected. Through initiatives like Walking Together, a college-wide partnership led by Indigenous staff, faculty, and the Executive Team, NorQuest is creating an educational environment where Indigenous students can succeed in and out of the classroom.

“Indigenization at NorQuest isn’t just a program, it’s a commitment that guides how we learn, grow, and support one another,” she said. “From our Indigenous Career Centre to renaming our learning platform misiwe pehtâkwan, meaning ‘it can be heard from all directions,’ we are creating spaces where Indigenous students can thrive.”

Two graduating students, Lawrence Andrews and Shelly Sheepskin, addressed the crowd with heartfelt speeches, reflecting on their personal and academic journeys.

Graduate Lawrence Andrews reflected on the changes he witnessed and helped shape during his time at the college.

“When I first arrived, I never imagined myself standing here,” Andrews said. “There was a time when I nearly didn’t finish my first term, wondering whether if this was where I wanted to be. But I was surrounded by so much support. Guidance, encouragement, and a strong sense of belonging carried me forward.”

He also spoke to the resources at NorQuest: “I saw the Indigenous Student Centre embrace a new name, and stood by as new seats were created to ensure Indigenous voices in leadership. Each of these steps strengthened our community.”

The evening closed with words of gratitude, a final prayer, and the Eagle Staff exit, symbolizing a step forward, not just for the graduates, but for a college community walking together in shared learning and respect.

“Your success is not only your own,” Carolyn said in her closing remarks, “It is a source of pride for your families, your communities, and for us, your NorQuest family. You are role models, leaders, and knowledge keepers for the generations to come.”