Sir John Franklin High SchoolSA国际影视传媒檚 Indigenous honour ceremony for graduating students took on a new, outdoor format on June 12 to comply with social distancing requirements.

The SA国际影视传媒渄rive-bySA国际影视传媒� event allowed families of the graduates to come and go when they wanted, pose for photos and feed a crackling fire with pouches of tobacco that each family received.

Twenty-five students were registered to attend.

Indigenous leaders and students also performed a drum ceremony by the fire.

SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檝e done Indigenous honour ceremonies for years, but usually itSA国际影视传媒檚 done inside the gymnasium,SA国际影视传媒� said Principal Dean MacInnis. SA国际影视传媒淭he parents like this because of the flexible structure. The focus is on the kids, not the event.SA国际影视传媒�

Channel Lafferty Piro said he was glad to be graduating.

SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檓 working at the Ford dealership now and I plan to work on my apprenticeship in auto mechanics,SA国际影视传媒� he said.

Deneze NakehkSA国际影视传媒檕 came with a large group of family members to celebrate the graduation of his daughter Lucia.

SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檓 happy this is going on,SA国际影视传媒� NakehkSA国际影视传媒檕 said. SA国际影视传媒淭his whole education system wasnSA国际影视传媒檛 designed for Indigenous people so we have to carve our own niches so our young people thrive. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 a nice opportunity to show their pride through their jewelry and clothes.SA国际影视传媒�

Damien and Shelby Lafond, who are brothers represented their Inuit heritage by wearing Inuit-style clothing at the honour ceremony.

SA国际影视传媒淭his is quite rewarding after a long year. ISA国际影视传媒檓 grateful we can have these opportunities now after three semesters of dealing with the pandemic,SA国际影视传媒� said Damien. SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檓 Inuit, so a lot of this isnSA国际影视传媒檛 part of my tradition but ISA国际影视传媒檓 happy to be part of the community of Yellowknife and Canada.SA国际影视传媒�

Sir JohnSA国际影视传媒檚 regular graduation ceremony is scheduled for June 24.