It’s that time of year when graduation is a common theme – when many of us think of rows of smiling people in black gowns and flat mortarboards with tassels. Celebrating our academic accomplishments is a shared practice across cultures, but how this looks? Not always grad caps thrown into the air.
While Welding student Kevin Morris is definitely going to be one of those who wears a cap and gown on May 10, he also took part in the Indigenous Graduate Honoring Ceremony on April 24. The ceremony, held at St. Cloud City Hall, was an opportunity for those who identify as Native American, First Nations, Alaska Native, and Indigenous who are graduating from local colleges, universities, or the 742 school district to come together to honor this rite of passage.
“It felt really good, and I felt a little bit nervous because I've never been honored before,” said Morris. “It was really the highest honor that I could get – they gave me an eagle feather which, the significance behind it is huge.”
Indigenous cultures give eagle feathers to those in honor as they are a symbol of the highest, bravest, strongest, and holiest. The presentation of an eagle feather to attendees was during a blanketing ceremony, which shows respect for those who have made an important contribution to the community. SCTCC Vice President Debra Leigh draped Morris with a blanket in front of witnesses during the ceremony.
“It was a small gathering, but it was really important for the those from the surrounding colleges and high schools,” explained Morris.
Morris was also recognized at the May 2 Cyclones Celebration held on campus, and while he was at that celebration, he wanted to make sure he acknowledged his instructor, Chuck Haus, who was the primary reason he is graduating this spring.
“When I first started, I realized that welding isn't what I thought it was. I was really frustrated,” said Morris. “Chuck stopped and he said just relax, try it like this. I'm like, I just can't do it and I just I don't know if I want to do this. He said just give it a try. And I did and it worked, and ever since then I've actually really really had a really good bond with Chuck.”
At the Cyclones Celebration, Haus was announced as the Faculty Outstanding Impact Award recipient, but he was unable to be in attendance (he was teaching).
No worries – Morris had a plan, and the following morning, a group led by him headed to the welding lab and presented Chuck with the award. It didn’t look exactly the same as the celebration the night before, but for Morris, different practices of celebration aren’t new.
Congratulations to both Morris and Haus on high honors for your impact on the community!
Sources:
https://www.stjo.org/native-american-culture/important-animals/eagle-wanbli/
https://cowichantribes.com/about-cowichan-tribes/history/traditions-we-still-practice-today