School District No. 35

It was a memorable evening for Indigenous students in the Langley School District. On Thursday, the Aboriginal Education Program held its annual Aboriginal Achievement Awards to celebrate the Indigenous student awardees from grades 9 through 11. It was also an event to honour the District’s Indigenous graduates, who are referred to as the Golden Eagles.

“I think it’s an opportunity to uplift students, to honour them, to recognize their efforts. It’s an opportunity to come together as a community,” said Mike Pue, District Principal of Aboriginal Education.

This year saw the largest number of Golden Eagles recognized at the event which included land based nation protocols of ceremony and blanketing. As speakers shared with the audience, blanketing is the highest honour in Indigenous communities. These blankets hold the love, pride and respect of the family presenting the blankets, like a ‘warm hug.’

After the blanketing ceremony, the grade 12s were honoured with traditional drumming and a procession in front of the community.

As the event closed, the grads were encouraged to thank those that helped them reach their education milestone.

“It’s important that the student recognize, and take that time to reflect as to all the people that have supported them throughout their time,” remarked Pue.

“We all wrap around each other and taking that time and that challenge before the end of the year to go out and find those people, and thank them for all their support, because it’s something that we don’t often do, is recognize everyone who’s helped us,” he added.