Celebrating the Largest Indigenous Graduating Class in District History

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Over 40 years ago the Kamloops-Thompson School District celebrated its first Indigenous Graduation ceremony with four graduates. In 2025, the District is proudly honouring over 250 Indigenous graduates—the highest number of Indigenous student graduates in our district’s history. 

On Monday, June 2, 2025, families, friends, educators, staff, community members, and graduating students gathered at the McArthur Island Sports Centre for the 2025 Indigenous Graduation Ceremony.

Throughout the evening, messages of celebration, hope, and pride were shared to honour Indigenous graduates from secondary schools across the Kamloops-Thompson School District and local areas.

Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc Elder Connie Jules opened the ceremony with heartfelt encouragement for the next generation of Indigenous leaders: “Keep on striving and thriving to do your best… you are the new leadership, you are the visionaries, you are everything the ancestors prayed for.”

District Principal Mike Bowden congratulated the graduates and shared: “Today is the result of your dedication, your late nights, your persistence through challenges, and your refusal to give up. This moment is also about more than academics—it's about carrying your culture with pride, walking forward with your ancestors at your back, and making space for the next generation to follow in your footsteps… You’ve proved that success doesn't require you to leave who you are behind, instead you brought your culture with you, into every classroom, every challenge, and now into your next steps… Wherever life takes you next, may you always walk with purpose, stay rooted in who you are, let your teachings guide your way, and never forget you are not alone. You carry the strength of your people and the future is brighter because of you.”

Superintendent Dr. Rhonda Nixon expressed gratitude and admiration for the graduates, sharing: “Our graduates of 2025 have unleashed their voices, their perspectives, their successes, and they’re examples for generations. Thank you for being the voice we needed. We can hardly wait to see who you become. May you continue to learn from those around you, trust in yourselves, and share your voices because they matter and you are the leaders of our future.”

Trustee Diane Jules shared congratulations on behalf of the Board of Education and expressed her pride for how the Class of 2025 has helped guide the Indigenous Anti-racism Action Plan that has made impacts province-wide: “You have left a legacy of leading with integrity and modeling the importance of sharing your voice.”

Messages of pride and encouragement, echoed throughout the evening, with powerful reflections from Métis Elder Ellen Ahdemar, Indigenous Education Council Chair Diane Anothony, and Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc Councillor Tk̓wenem7íple7 Dave Manuel. Justin Young, father of SKSS Grad Sisena Phillips-Young, shared a passionate message on behalf of parents, encouraging the graduates to “feel the fear and do it anyway.”

The evening's co-valedictorians emphasized the importance of sharing Indigenous knowledge, celebrating and honouring culture, and becoming future leaders.

Mikoh Rose from South Kamloops Secondary shared: “Indigenous knowledge systems are not a module, they are integral to all of our growth. I encourage all of you to continue your journey—know what you have to offer is enough. Your knowledge and stories are what your ancestors have prayer for. Keep striving to become the best version of yourself and never forget where you come from… This is just the beginning. You are the protectors, storytellers, leaders, and healers of your nations. Never forget who you are and where you come from. You carry greatness and you are greatness.”

Maple Peel from Westsyde Secondary added: “What we’ve done is not just academic. It is cultural. It is emotional. It is spiritual…Graduation isn’t just an ending. It’s the beginning of something sacred and beautiful. What happens next matters just as much as this moment. You are the future, the future educators, nurses, artists, engineers, language protectors—and whatever else your soul dreams of. But no matter what we do, let’s carry forward the values and hard work that brought us here. Let’s create spaces where the next generations can walk into classrooms and feel seen. Let’s bring our languages back—not just into schools, but into boardrooms and courtrooms and hospitals. Let’s make sure this moment isn’t rare.”

After hundreds of graduates from 16 different schools crossed the stage to cheers and applause from family and friends, Secwépemc Cultural Educator Jackie Jules closed the evening with a powerful reminder: “You truly are the ancestors' dreams.”