Grads of 2020

The high school graduates of 2020 finally got their graduation ceremony before the end of the year.  No other delays and/or lockdowns were announced prior to December 11, so the ceremony was cleared to proceed.  The graduates and everyone involved were ecstatic.  We’ve been waiting since June.

The Hamlet Office gave permission to use the community hall for the ceremony.  We just had to follow COVID-19 restrictions.  The event had to be limited to 50 people, including the 11 graduates.  The Graduation Committee created a guest list and it was to be strictly followed.  Even though COVID-19 is not in the community, we couldn’t take any chances.  The disease is in the territory and continues to spread all over the world.  You never know when & where it will surface.

The graduates and a small army of volunteers decorated the community hall on December 10 & 11.  Frank lent one of his pickup trucks to the school so that we could transport the decorations and dinnerware.  It always amazes me just how heavy dinner plates, bowls, cups, and cutlery can be.  By midday December 11, the hall was ready for the celebration.

I arrived at 5:30pm wearing a suit.  There were people already inside.  The local caterers were in the kitchen getting the food ready.  I found a safe place to store my outer clothing and put on my dress shoes.  I took out my digital camera and began photographing the hall. 

The stage was decorated with stars, balloons, and gold drapes.  The names of the eleven graduates were pasted on the back wall and the year 2020, made with balloons, was proudly displayed above the stage.  Eleven chairs sat in the centre.  The speaker’s podium was draped in a silver white cloth.  In front of the stage to the left sat the Elder’s chair & table, also wrapped in silver white.  On the small table sat a large qulliq lamp.  A long red carpet, lined with small electric lights, stretched from the stage to the back of the hall.  Balloons hung everywhere.  A large balloon arch was erected over the red carpet at the back of the hall for the graduates to walk underneath.  In front of that was another arch but this one was made of metal and covered in stars.  One wall was turned into a backdrop for photographs.  A large star decorated table was placed here for the graduation cake.  Everyone did an excellent job.

More people on the guest list began showing up and I put my camera away to help the caterers bring out the food.  We placed everything on tables that sat against the right wall.  There was a lot of food and I assumed there would be leftovers.  The graduates and guests wore formal attire.  The dinner began at 6:00pm.

Grade 1 Teacher.

The Principal welcomed everyone and asked the Grade 1 teacher to bless the food.  (She was on the guest list because her daughter was a graduate).  The graduates lined up first, followed by their parents & guardians.  I got in line last.  There was still plenty of food for me to take.  The menu consisted of various meats, salads, rice, desserts, and beverages.  I’ll let my photographs provide the descriptions.  Soft music played over loudspeakers while everyone dined like royalty.  Quite a few people, including myself, went back for seconds.  We didn’t have to wear masks or social distance.  The dinner lasted an hour.

The leftover food was moved back to the kitchen.  In previous years, the table decorations & tables would be removed, and the chairs would be rearranged for a large audience.  We didn’t have to do that this year because of the limit of guests.  Instead, the tables & chairs near the red carpet were moved further apart.  Everything would be taken down at the end of the ceremony.

The graduates put on their graduation gowns.  The large graduation cake was brought out and placed on the star decorated table.  The cake maker did an excellent job.  I quickly, but carefully, took a picture of cake before the graduates lined up around it.  The hired photographer took several pictures of the graduates holding a large cutting knife.  I stood back & took my own photos.  The cake was cut into many equal pieces and eaten by the graduates and guests.  It was delicious.

The ceremony began at 8pm.  Everyone stood up and lit light sparklers as Fearless Soul’s “Believe” was played over loudspeakers.  The emcee welcomed everyone as the community’s two RCMP officers marched in, beginning the procession.  The officers stood at both ends of the stage.  Each graduate entered the hall individually, walking along the red lit carpet towards the stage.  Their names were called and applauded.  The graduates took their seats on stage and the music stopped.  Everyone remained standing for the opening prayer.  The prayer was followed by the Lighting of the Qulliq. 

Elder Qapik Attagutsiak lit the ceremonial qulliq.  As the flames slowly took shape, she gave a brief speech about the importance & significance of the qulliq in Inuit culture.

Everyone sat as the Principal continued the ceremony with the Student Address & Diploma Presentation.  In his speech, he praised the students for completing high school & encouraged them to continue on to post-secondary education.  He also encouraged them to consider becoming teachers because the territory needs more Inuit teachers.  He finished his speech by thanking the parents & guardians for supporting their children.  The Principal called each graduate to receive their diploma and pose for a photograph.  They were all smiling.

Jeremy Tunraluk.

The Graduation Committee had invited Nunavut MLA David Akeeagok to speak at the ceremony, but he was unable to attend due to other commitments.  Instead, he sent Jeremy Tunraluk to speak to the graduates & everyone on his behalf.  The speech touched on the same themes of pursuing post-secondary education and seeking employment in the territory. 

DEA Chair

The next speaker was the head of the local District Education Authority (DEA).  She continued the accolades to the graduates and thanked the parents & guardians for encouraging their children to finish high school.  She finished her speech by presenting specially made rings to the grads. 

Four awards were given out at the ceremony: Governor General, Hamlet of Arctic Bay, Volunteer Achievement, and Athletic Achievement.  I had the honour of presenting the Volunteer Achievement Award.  The winners received certificates.  The winner of the Governor General (GG) Award also received a GG’s coin.

The graduates were given a chance to speak, but only four did.  Some find the moment a little overwhelming and don’t know what to say.  Or, they want to say something, but their emotions get the best of them.  (When I graduated high school, I wasn’t allowed to address the audience.  My graduated class had to select a valedictorian).  The grads who did speak thanked family, friends, and teachers for never giving up on them.  They spoke in Inuktitut & English. 

Parents & guardians were also given the chance to speak.  Nine of them took up the offer.  They spoke in both languages, congratulating their children, and thanking the school for helping them complete the curriculum.

The ceremony concluded with the graduates throwing their caps into the air and then walking off the stage while festive music played over loud speakers.  The audience applauded one last time as the graduates exited the hall.

One of the grads convinced me to
take a selfie with him.

The grads actually came back for more photographs.  The teachers & Hamlet staff began putting away decorations, tables, and chairs.  The graduates changed out of their graduation gowns and helped with the cleaning after their photos were taken.  All school owned stuff was loaded onto Frank’s truck.  The leftover food was divided, wrapped, and taken home.  Several teachers & I drove to the school and carried all the stuff into the school.  Everything was placed in the kitchen and would be sorted & put away at a later date.  Frank told me to hold onto the truck for the night and return it the following day.

Congratulations to the 11 graduates of 2020!  You’re now free to do whatever you like.