District’s Golden Eagles honoured at Aboriginal Achievement Awards
May 21, 2024
An event honouring Langley School District students from the Aboriginal Education Program – especially the program’s soon-to-be-graduating Golden Eagles – was a chance for celebration and connection.
The annual Aboriginal Achievement Awards, now in their 12th year, honoured students from Grade 9 through to Grade 12, and culminated in a blanketing ceremony for Golden Eagle graduates – which is one of the highest honours in the Indigenous community.
The blanket is placed carefully over the person’s shoulders, closed at the front. These blankets hold the love, the pride and respect of the family presenting the blankets.
As part of the ceremony, the Golden Eagles follow a procession around the room to drumming and song, as a way to be celebrated by the community.
These grads are referred to as the Golden Eagles, because the Eagle is highly respected in Indigenous culture, as it is the one who flies the highest and carries thoughts and prayers to the Creator.
The evening was also an opportunity for students and their families to reflect on how far they have come, while also supporting them on their journey moving forward.
“I want them to feel a sense of accomplishment, a sense of pride, connection,” said Mike Pue, District Principal of Aboriginal Education.
“We strive here at the Langley School District to ensure that at all times students have a sense of belonging – we all wrap around to uplift what we call ya:y̓ əstəl̕ , the hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ word ya:y̓ əstəl̕ , meaning working together, where we can wrap around the students, family, school community, and really uplift them and support them on their journey of learning,” explains Pue.
“There’s a lot of people who helped them along the way,” he adds.
In addition to students, the Aboriginal Achievement Awards were also an opportunity to honour all staff in the Aboriginal Education department. After the grads took the stage, staff were called on stage and received cheers from those in attendance.
As part of the traditional ceremony, four witnesses were also called onto the stage to share positive messages for the students.
The District congratulates the Golden Eagles and all award recipients.