June is a month of ceremonies and commemorations. Many a student has graduated or is about to graduate. Convocations – the assemblies of members of the educational community and the learners’ families convened to celebrate this important milestone in a person’s life – are always special occasions. For Canadians, the month is even more significant, as it marks National Indigenous History Month – a time to honour the rich history and diversity of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples, on whose ancestral lands settlers from Europe and elsewhere settled. Coinciding with the summer solstice, National Indigenous People’s Day on June 21st is an opportunity to join Indigenous peoples in celebrating their culture and heritage.
These two forms of milestone celebrations join forces during convocations at Ă山ǿĽé, when Indigenous and non-Indigenous learners hear their names called out, and proudly cross the stage to the cheers of family members, friends, mentors, and other university staff. On this occasion, our Indigenous graduates proudly wear their ceremonial scarves. As I sit on stage in full regalia, I can feel the excitement but also the nervousness of our learners. The doors that this new credential opens lead to yet unknown opportunities and pathways for each graduate. They are part of a larger community of fellow graduates, alumni, families, and friends. As Elder Otsi’tsaken:ra (Charlie Patton), reminded students and faculty during the Spring 2023 Ă山ǿĽé Scarf Ceremony, “when they can rub good minds together, they can make good decisions.”
As I have come to learn through the literature and colleagues, lifelong learning is a core belief of the Anishinaabe peoples of the land now known as Canada. It is perpetuated not only through the teachings of the Elders but through the experiences of communities as a whole. Indeed, continuing education or lifelong learning at their best are not individual acts of teaching and learning, but rather represent a pursuit of social betterment for the benefit of all of humankind. With each new graduate, our world gains another source of talent to address society's complex problems and improve the lives for all.
And so, in the spirit of the season, I wish all “a good rubbing together of minds”!