Historic graduation honours Sechelt/St. Augustine’s survivors and day scholars
On September 17th, 2025, the Sunshine Coast Board of Education, in partnership with shíshálh Nation and Syiyaya, presented Honourary Certificates of Graduation to recognize life experiences as equivalent to secondary school completion at a historic graduation ceremony that honoured survivors of Sechelt/St. Augustine’s residential school and day scholars.
To the graduates, we see you, we celebrate you, and we hold you up.
Education must never again be a tool of harm, it must be a path of Truth and Reconciliation, and belonging so that every learner is seen and honoured for who they are. May we continue to walk together, rooted in truth, lifted by hope, and bound by respect.
Background
For the first National Truth and Reconciliation Day in 2021, the shíshálh Nation released a video of elders sharing their experiences at residential schools. In that video, Audrey Santiago and Val Bourne commented that they wished someone would acknowledge that many Survivors did not graduate due to the impact of residential school and day school.
That comment was really taken to heart and by people in the broader community. Many, including the Sunshine Coast Board of Education, wanted to do something to acknowledge that.
As part of their commitment to Truth and Reconciliation, about three years ago the School Board passed a motion that they will work with the shíshálh Nation to present, to those who wish to have one, an honourary high school graduation certificate to shíshálh People who went to St. Augustine’s residential school, or who were day scholars there, and because of that were not able to complete high school graduation.
Gratitude
With deep gratitude to shíshálh Nation, to Syiyaya, and to everyone who brought this ceremony to life.
Much of the vision for how the ceremony should go was created by Chief Garry Feschuk, supported and facilitated by his son, Xwash (Steven Feschuk) and facilitated by Nanika Paul of the shíshálh Nation Cultural Department. Dale Senkey, John Denham and Nancy Denham of SYIYAYA assisted with facilitation. Drummers and Singers, including youth, from the shíshálh Nation, contributed beautiful cultural protocol. Community members made amazing contributions of their skills and time, among them Jessica Silvey, Ali Silvey, Bella Silvey and Germain George who made the cedar grad caps, Shain Jackson and Suzy Jackson of Spirit Works who provided the cedar Eagle Feathers, Kevin and Natan August and team of Sacred Flavours for amazing catering, videographer Tamar Kozlov, the First Nations Liaisons of the Sechelt RCMP Detachment, Gale Bergen of Devlin Funeral Home, Tammy and team of Tattle Tales Party Décor. On behalf of the school district, the School Board of Education and staff: Kate Kerr, Jennifer Roberts, Christa Rive, Kerry Mahlman, Desiree Harris, Stephanie Murawsky and Lorna Van Diessen; the Sunshine Coast School District Ensouling Our Schools Working Group, Sunshine Coast School District Indigenous Learning Team, the presidents of CUPE local 801 and the Sunshine Coast Teachers Association, and members of the Sunshine Coast Principals and Vice-Principals Association.
