Students of Aurora College’s Yellowknife North Slave Campus were recently honoured for their hard work and commitment at the annual Convocation Ceremony.
Held in two different events at the capital’s Chateau Nova Hotel, students were adorned in caps and gowns as the college’s leaders welcomed them not just to the stage, but to the next chapter of their lives.
A total of 113 students were honoured throughout the day, and according to Aurora College President, Dr. Angela James, around 60% of them come from an Indigenous background. Across all of their campuses, Aurora College’s entire student body is comprised of 75% of Indigenous people.
The Afternoon Convocation Ceremony for Aurora College
(Connor Pitre/CKLB)
Dr. James adds that Aurora College has always been a beacon for Indigenous knowledge.
“Indigenous Knowledge, on-the-land learning, including Elders in the classroom and as guest lecturers are integral aspects of most programs at Aurora College. Many of our programs incorporate Indigenous traditions, knowledge and world views into the curriculum to help prepare students to work in northern and Indigenous communities.”
“Aurora College is unique in the Canadian post-secondary landscape in its commitment to enacting Reconciliation through a tricameral governance structure. This tricameral governance structure includes the Board of Governors, Academic Council, and the Indigenous Knowledge Holders’ Council (IKHC). The 13 IKHC members were appointed in April of 2024 and are NWT residents of Dene, Inuvialuit, and Métis ancestry from across the territory.
“The IKHC will play a pivotal role in the success of Aurora College. It will promote policies and operational decisions that foster the success of Indigenous students and staff at Aurora College and the overall success of the institution. The IKHC will develop and monitor implementation of a framework that guides Aurora College in all areas of strategic and operational decision-making and that respects and honours the worldviews, traditions, cultures and histories of the Indigenous Peoples of the Northwest Territories.”
The Afternoon Convocation Ceremony for Aurora College
(Connor Pitre/CKLB)
This year’s Valedictorians from the Yellowknife North Slave Campus are Donovan Erutse and Jonathon Whitford. Dr. James shared the ways that the two embody Aurora College’s values, stating that they were both involved in caring/helping profession programs that are key to the health and wellbeing of NWT communities and the territory as a whole. Additionally, they were both strong leaders within their programs and went out of their way to help fellow students however they could.
The other two Valedictorians from this year are Brittany LeBlue from the Thebacha Campus, and Clara Marshall from the Aurora Campus. The Convocation Ceremony for the Thebacha Campus will be held on Friday, June 6th, while the Ceremony for the Aurora Campus will be held on Friday, June 13th.
