M’CHIGEENG—From delivering courses in a ramshackle collection of trailers cobbled together as castoffs from institutions across the North, Kenjgewin Teg Educational Institute (KTEI), its board, staff, teachers and students have persevered to see the facility develop into a state-of-the-art educational facility that any community would be proud to call their own.
On Thursday, May 29, KTEI will celebrate 20 years as a First Nation educational facility that focusses on “inspiring students to find their gifts to further succeed in the world” with a fun-filled event-packed day.
In keeping with connections to the traditional values of greater learning, the day will begin at the facility with a pipe ceremony at 7:30 am where everyone is welcome to attend.
Later risers can catch up at 10 am, when the festivities will begin with an opening thanksgiving and welcome. Following messages of special congratulations, traditional knowledge faculty members will honour the graduates and 20 years of Kenjgewin Teg will be celebrated in a presentation.
A flag-raising event will take place outside the facility, rain or shine, and people are invited to be part of KTEI’s living history by making a mark on the KTEI Family Tree.
There will be live entertainment, a moccasin contest (bring your favourite pair) and a celebratory roundance. Everyone is encouraged to bring his or her feast bag to the event.
As part of preparations for the celebrations, former students are being encouraged to log into the KTEI Facebook page at facebook.com/kenjgewintegeducation to leave their own testimonial and, of course, to make plans to stop by on Thursday, May 29 to join in the celebratory fun.