Grace Anderson and Finley Testawich are the 2024 Indigenous Role Models for School District 27 in the Cariboo Chilcotin.
The two Grade 9 Columneetza Secondary School students were crowned, blessed and blanketed during a ceremony Thursday, May 23 held in the Lake City Secondary School (LCSS) gym in Williams Lake.
Grace’s ancestry is from the Squamish First Nation.
In her write-up she noted because of the strength of her ancestors she has a deeper connection to her heritage.
She said she is thankful that her Indigenous roots have enhanced her life.
“I’m really thankful that I got chosen and honoured to be a role model as well,” she said after the ceremony. “I’m not sure what I’m going to be doing, but I get to do it with one of my friends, Finley.”
Grace is a band student at her school.
Finley’s ancestry is from Duncan’s First Nation, a Cree community in Northern Alberta.
He said he thought all the candidates were a good option.
In his write-up, he noted he treasures the stories that have come down through the generations and is thankful that he has learned about his cultural traditions.
“I’m proud to be chosen,” he said after the ceremony. “I’m looking forward to helping people out and being a leader hopefully to a lot of people.”
Outside of school he plays hockey and does archery.
Finley said he loves meeting people, and is happy to be meeting many more people.
Grace and Finley were among 16 candidates who all showed leadership skills and were told several times throughout the ceremony they were all role models.
Joining them as candidates were Tayana Paul, LCSS, Leigha Meade, Columneetza Junior Secondary School (CJSS), Warren Carlson, Peter Skene Odgen Secondary School (PSO), Michaellaine Evans, CJSS, Selena Norquay, CJSS, Nathan Johnson, LCSS, Skye Spence, CJSS, Seianna Harry, CJSS, Sophie Chorney, CJSS, Treval LaRue, LCSS, Brianna Cerenzie, CJSS, Christine Harry, LCSS, Lauryn Boyce, PSO, and Drucilla Archie, PSO.
It was the 21st year of choosing role models in the district, and Tsilhqot’in elder Joan Gentles, who used to work with SD27 and helped start the program was one of the elders greeting the students.
“This is the highlight of my year to be standing here,” Gentles told them. “Being a role model is a tough but beautiful job.”
David Archie, cultural coordinator for Williams Lake First Nation, participated in drumming and singing during the ceremony and also addressed the candidates.
“We are so blessed to be able to honour young leaders, to honour the energy that you carry, to honour the spirit that you carry, to honour the drive that you have been born with,” he said.
The youth see all the things that parents, grandparents, teachers and leaders are trying to provide to support them, he added.
“But we also know your vision, your voice, comes at a higher vibration and faster pace and that you see things and solutions to problems we face today,” Archie said, adding their input will make communities stronger in the future.
Grant Gustafson, district principal, Indigenous Education SD27, said looking back the district has made some gains in respects to working with First Nations, but there is still more work to do.
“It takes courage to identify yourselves as role models,” he told the students.
He explained how the role model prorgram works and how the students do workshops on essay writing and public speaking, plus they have to solicit reference letters.
Once the packages are complete, Tracy Hubner, secretary Indigenous Education, goes through them all, uses some white out to prepare the submissions so the judges will not know who the candidates are.
The submissions are then judged by members of the First Nations Education Council.
After the crowning, words of congratulations were shared by Ulktacho First Nation Chief Lynda Price, WLFN Chief Willie Sellars, Xeni Gwet’in Chief Roger William, Tsq?éscen? First Nation Chief Helen Henderson, Stswecem’c Xget’tem First Nation Chief Marilyn Camille, Esk’etemc Chief Fred Robbins and Esk’etemc Hereditary Chief Francis Johnson.
Each leader expressed hope for a future in the hands of the young people.
Outgoing 2023 role models Sky Johnson and Tyson Michel were also honoured, given the opportunity to say a few words, blessed and given crowns to keep, after they crowned Grace and Finley.
The evening closed with a feast.
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