The 20th Indigenous Role Models for School District 27 were crowned in a ceremony at the Lake City Secondary School - Williams Lake campus June 1.
Ten candidates applied for the two roles, one male and one female, and many community leaders spoke, including Joan Gentles, who helped create the role model system 20 years ago.
Gentles encouraged the youth to stay strong.
“I have been a role model and it’s a tough job,” she said, noting jealousy is something they will have to contend with, but told them not to let it deter them in their important work.
Speeches, drumming and songs as well as traditional dancers were rolled out to honour the candidates. The 2022 Indigenous Role Models Paige Romaniuk and Angus Paul read out the profiles of the new applicants as they entered.
Welcomes were done in Secwepemc (Shuswap) by Cecilia DeRose, in Tsilhqot’in (Chilcotin) by Joan Gentles, and in Dakelh (Carrier) by Mabelene Leon. A Métis welcome was also done by Arnold Lucier.
This year’s candidates at the ceremony were Sky Johnson, Seth Chelsea-Montgomery, November-reign Bowe, Treval LaRue, Parker-Barbie Testawich, Macie Yanko, Brianna Pope, Finley Testawich, and Tyson Michel. Emma Penner was also a candidate but was unable to attend the ceremony.
The job of Indigenous Role Models for School District 27 includes a one-year role doing appearances at cultural and community events and the benefits include a $500 bursary.
Before the ceremony began, Parker-Barbie Testawich said she applied “to be a role model for other Indigenous youth and to be a voice in the community when other people don’t have one” and said she thinks she would be a good role model because of her kindness and compassion.
Sky Johnson said she applied because she thinks it would be a nice role and she feels like the younger kids on the reserve look up to her.
Brianna Pope said she applied because she “wants to be a positive influence in the community” and because she has looked up to past Indigenous role models.
The 2022 role models Paige Romaniuk and Angus Paul also spoke before the new role models were revealed.
“This past year has been the most amazing cultural journey,” Paige said of learning about both her culture and her community.
New role models are revealed when the previous year’s role models unwrap the framed posters to put up in the school showing the new role models’ photos and profiles.
This year’s role models are Sky Johnson of Esket and Tyson Michel, whose father is from Nak’azdli (near Fort St. James).
Many attendees got up to speak and congratulate the new role models, including area chiefs.
“It takes courage to put your names forward,” said Chief Joe Alphonse of Tl’etinqox (Anaham) and chair of the Tsilhqot’in National Government, noting they need many leaders and he was happy to see them being proud to be Indigenous. He also invited the new role models to join the final part of the Tl’etinqox horse and bike journey into Williams Lake for Stampede.
Chief Fred Robbins of Esket thanked the parents who raised the role models for their work in helping them become young leaders.
“You make our ancestors proud,” said Mabelene Leon of Ulkatcho, in her speech to the candidates.
After winning, Tyson Michel said he was excited about the pow wows and learning about the culture.
Editor’s note: This story has been updated to include Emma Penner, the tenth candidate, a proud member of the Metis culture in eleventh grade who was unable to attend the ceremony. We regret not including Emma as a candidate in the original version.
READ MORE: Indigenous role models unveiled for 2022 at Lake City Secondary School – WL campus ceremony
READ MORE: SD27 selects 2019’s First Nations Role Models
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