On July 5, Jean and I participated in the graduation of the second cohort of our Northern Indigenous Counselling (NIC) students. Twelve graduates. All women. All Indigenous. All certified counsellors and life coaches. Woohoo!
What a day! What a night! The graduation was held at the legislative assembly and was opened by the Yellowknives Dene First Nation drummers. The drummers also drummed as the graduates were introduced while they entered the great hall one by one.
So beautiful. So powerful.
Here are the graduates, where they live, and are originally from:
Agnes Pascal, Inuvik, originally from Fort McPherson;
Alissa Landry, Yellowknife, originally from Taloyoak;
Cara Manuel, Fort Good Hope, originally from Fort Good Hope;
Deborah Drybones, Yellowknife, originally from Fort Good Hope;
Donna Schreder, Yellowknife, originally from Saskatchewan;
Elizabeth Mountain, Fort Good Hope, originally from Fort Good Hope;
Ildiko Etthidzine, High Level, originally from High Level;
Marie Speakman, Yellowknife, originally from Deline;
Nancy Rabesca, Behchoko, originally from Behchoko;
Natasha Harris, Yellowknife, originally from Fort Good Hope;
Rhonda Plamondon, Hay River, originally from Fort Providence;
Tina Wrigley, Yellowknife, originally from Deline;
The graduates received a Professional Counsellor Diploma and a Life Skills Counselling Certificate. They also did the courses for the Wellness Counsellor Diploma, but did not receive that diploma because the program only had short breaks between each of the six semesters, so there was not time to do the practicum for the Wellness Diploma.
Melissa Lennie and Cody Erasmus both did fantastic jobs as Masters of Ceremony. They had taken turns as program managers of the NIC 2 initiative and provided tremendous support to the students. They also acted as Teacher Assistants in the classes.
Marie Speakman did the opening and closing prayer in her North Slavey language. The graduates wanted her to do the honors because she was the SA国际影视传媒淓lderSA国际影视传媒� of the class. This was an indication of the respect they have for Marie.
Remarks by dignitaries
Opening remarks were made by the Yellowknives Dene First Nation Chief of Dettah, Ernest Betsina, who commented on how Indigenous counsellors are really needed for Indigenous people in the NWT. Chief Colin Pierrot of Fort Good Hope, Acting Chief Leonard Kenny of Deline, and Joseph Tobac of Yamoga Land Corp. were also there.
Deputy Premier Caroline Wawzonek represented the GNWT. Her message was very similar to her Facebook post, SA国际影视传媒�An incredible program and success like this takes a vision and then everyone coming together to make it happen. Congratulations to the 2025 graduates! I look forward to the change and positivity they will bring to the world.SA国际影视传媒�
Congratulatory remarks were also delivered by Dr. John B. Zoe, Chairperson of Hot谋矛 tsSA国际影视传媒檈eda, which had provided scholarships to every student throughout the program. This assisted them tremendously, particularly those who had dependents.
Lesa Semmler, Minister of Health and Social Services, said in video comments the graduates would make a positive impact on the mental health of Indigenous Northerners. The department provided funding for the program managers and cultural inclusion for the project.
Valedictorian Cara Manuel spoke about how going through the six semesters had made the students like sisters. Speaking to the graduates she said, SA国际影视传媒淚 know in my heart that each of you will do great things. This is a movement for change.SA国际影视传媒�
The graduates also made speeches, emphasizing how the experiential program had been a life-changing journey that brought tears, emotions, laughter, and created a special bond between them. They were happy to see their instructors, Vanessa, Jill and support staff Jameson attend the graduation.
They also expressed deep gratitude to Dene Wellness Warriors and Rhodes Wellness College for this life-changing journey and commented on wanting to work together and with Dene Wellness Warriors in the future.
JeanSA国际影视传媒檚 Dream
Jean Erasmus reflected on how Northern Indigenous counselling came about. It was her dream to train Northern Indigenous counsellors because there were very few qualified Indigenous counsellors to fill the many positions in the NWT.
She described how she and her husband, Roy Erasmus, were operating the Dene Wellness Warriors. They went to Vancouver and convinced Ben Colling, the President of Rhodes Wellness College, to partner with them to deliver NIC in Yellowknife.
Ben came to Yellowknife, and they received enthusiastic support from the many GNWT, federal and Indigenous leaders they met with. After a lot of work, the program was delivered in the NWT. It had to start in 2020 online because of Covid. The first cohort saw 16 graduates, and now 12 more graduates in 2025.
Ben presented diplomas to the graduates and spoke about their journey and how proud he was of them. He said RhodesSA国际影视传媒� experiential model provided 1,640 hours of instruction designed to build capacity from the inside out. It fosters growth, healing, and resilience within each student, and then equips them with the tools to support similar growth in others.
Ben also announced a $10,000 donation to the Dene Wellness Warriors to go towards the Endacho Healing Lodge that will be built in Yellowknife. This was a wonderful surprise and showed how much faith Ben has in Dene Wellness Warriors.
Feast and drum dance
The graduation was followed by a fantastic feast and drum dance led by the Yellowknives Dene Drummers at the Northern United Place. The food was awesome and was all prepared by the graduates.
Graduates and their families had a great time eating together, telling stories and laughing a lot. The drummers outdid themselves, singing various types of dances like the traditional drum dance, the Mountain dance, and two dances where couples dance, one while holding hands.
Fun was had by all, with Rhodes staff dancing almost every song. Ben and his wife, Mayura, danced as well, as did Jean, myself, Cody and Melissa, the two program coordinators.
A Pendleton Blanket was conferred on RhodesSA国际影视传媒� Provost, Dean Davie, who had attended the one-week on-the-land program last summer with the students. By the end of the week, the students were affectionately calling him Dene Dean. Eschia (take it easy, eh!)
Each of the graduates will receive a Pendleton Blanket. The blankets had not arrived before graduation, so this allowed us to show them what they will be receiving.
All in all, a fantastic day and evening. Congratulations, graduates. Now, itSA国际影视传媒檚 time to get out there and help our people.
