Austin, from Grandmother’s Bay, graduated from Senator Myles Venne School in 2017; he was the class Valedictorian.
“Being able to speak for the graduates, and speaking on how the school has taught us, and how it prepared us for what the future has for us. It’s a moment I will never forget,” he says.
Austin enjoys cooking and sports, particularly volleyball and badminton. He also enjoys staying up at night watching the stars.
Austin says his greatest achievement was winning a Bronze medal at Provincials with friends from Grandmother’s Bay. He’s won several tournaments in both volleyball and badminton.
His goals are to become a chef, but mostly, to become a teacher.
Message to youth: “Keep on striding for success, you never know how far you can get.”
Darcie, 18, completed her grade 12 in her community, Little Red River.
She is an Old-Style Jingle Dress Dancer, which gives her the opportunity to travel across Canada. She is also a Back Up Singer for the Double Jrs.
Darcie enjoys sports such as volleyball, badminton, track and soccer.
She is a finalist in the 2017 Miss Canada Globe competitions.
Message to the youth: “Dream big and never give up, you’ll get there eventually.”
Darius enjoys spending time with his family, particularly his grandmother, who teaches him to speak Cree.
He enjoys sports such as volleyball and basketball: he also enjoys fishing and hunting.
Message to the kids: “If you can make the right choices, you can make the right changes.“
Jaedon is an active, outgoing, friendly Rhoda Hardlotte Memorial High School student, who hasn’t missed a day of school in the last four years.
She actively participates in the classroom and is always there to help a fellow classmate who is struggling.
Jaedon was a recipient of the Lieutenant Governor’s Award for Excellence in 2016.
She has a wide variety of interests such as cultural activities like trapping, canoeing, going to her trap line and making moose hide.
Jaedon is involved in her school travel club, assisted Elders in a Career and Work Exploration class and actively participates in raising emergency funds for her community.
She enjoys quading, water sports and anything outdoors.
She plans to join the RCMP.
Massage to the youth: “The greatest feeling is accomplishment.”
Joseph is entering his fourth year in Football and third in c
Cheerleading.
He was nominated for Outstanding Achievement in the SaskTel Indigenous Youth Awards of Excellence.
Joseph received the 2016 MVP award for Cheerleading and the 2017 MOP Football award.
His interests include acting; he played Scar in the Lion King Jr. performance.
Joseph worked on construction for the last four summer.
Message to youth: ”I work towards making an impact in my community. I feel proud of my achievements.”
Montana is a Grade 12 student in his home community, Little Red River Reserve. He recently completed applications for the Indigenous Program for First Nations University and looks forward to a career in education.
Montana has many accomplishments such as, working as a summer student for three years, and completing training in babysitting, Safe Food Handling, WHMIS, Fire Fighting certification, Transportation of Dangerous Goods, Confined Space Entry and Fall Arrest.
He enjoys sports – soccer, volleyball and hockey and was on the Senior Boys Soccer team winning the Gold medal in Prince Albert.
Message to the youth: “Never say never, because limits, like fears, are often just an illusion.” (by Michael Jordan)
Ryanne, 18, recently graduated with 31 credits. She received awards in: Academic, Cree Language and Natural Science.
She also received the Lieutenant Governor’s Award for Excellence.
Message to youth: “Anything that’s worth having, you have to work for it.”
Seekwun has many interests such as fishing, snaring, hunting, trapping and volleyball.
Education is important to her as she aims for a career in Social Work.
Future goals: “Get educated, go back to help my community prosper and grow.”
Message to the community: “When the whole world is silent, even one voice becomes powerful.”
Sky is a Grade 11 student, with many accomplishments and interests, who has never missed a day of school.
She placed in the Regional Science Fair four years in a row, taking third and fourth place, along with competing at Provincials in Archery.
Sky took second place in a provincial writing competition, two years running.
She enjoys basketball, archery, writing, reading, chess, tutoring and piano.
Sky’s goals include: graduating with perfect attendance, earning at 4.0 GPA, being accepted into MIT, going to university, earning a PhD in Mathematics, travelling to all the modern wonders of the world and becoming a well-known author.
Message to Youth: “Struggles in life are given. How it is you get through them is what defines you.”
Taryn is a Track and Field athlete winning the Bob Adams Foundation Midget Female Track and Field Athlete of the Year award in 2014.
She also won six Gold medals at the North American Indigenous Games the same year in 300m, 800m, 1200m, 3km in cross country, 4 x 100m relay, and 4 x 400m relay.
In 2017, Taryn won three Gold medals in 800m, 4 x 100, 4 x 400, 1 Bronze in 200m.
Taryn began running at nine years old under the eye of her Uncle Bob and Dad. The same year she beat 12-year-olds, but, was too young to compete in the North American Indigenous Games.
“From that day on I grew to love track. It taught me so many great skills that have shaped me to be who I am today.”
Taryn’s goal is to try University Track and Field and “see where it takes me.”
Her plan: to strive to live a healthy lifestyle taking care of her body in all aspects – physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually.
Message to youth: “Everyone has days where they don’t perform like they thought they would. In these times you have to pick yourself up and push even harder and faster than you ever have before, and great things will happen.”