After convocation, Unama’ki College and the Mi’kmaw Students Association held the 31st Annual Convocation Banquet. The 26 Aboriginal, Fall and Spring, graduates gathered at the Membertou Trade and Convention Centre to celebrate their accomplishments while enjoying some inspiring words from Assistant Professor and Emcee for the evening, Tuma Young; Associate Vice – President, Indigenous Affairs and Unama’ki College, Stephen Augustine; Interim President, Dale Keefe; CBU Chancellor, Annette Verschuren; and guest speaker, Chief Leroy Denny of Eskasoni. We would also like to thank Unama’ki College Elders in Residence, Lawrence Wells and Mary Ellen Googoo for their opening and closing remarks and prayers. Following the speeches, each of the graduates were called up to the stage where they were presented with an Unama’ki College jacket and an eagle feather by Eleanor and Patrick Johnson, two people who were instrumental in the opening of Unama’ki College and getting it to where it is today.
On behalf of Unama’ki College at Cape Breton University, the staff and faculty would like to congratulate the following students on a job well done:
Bachelor of Arts Major
- Mary Virginia Googoo, Eskasoni (Mi’kmaq Studies)
- Bernard Peter Prosper Jr., Eskasoni (Political Science)
Bachelor of Arts
- Kelsey Anne Marie, We’koqma’q
- Riviera Jane Bernard, Eskasoni