06/18/2026
Deputy Grand Chief Anna Betty Achneepineskum was honoured to attend the Kashechewan First Nation Grade 12 graduation ceremony in North Bay this week.
Twenty-two graduates were celebrated by family, friends, and staff for their academic achievements, commitment, and perseverance.
“It always makes me happy and proud to witness students as they walk across the stage to receive their diplomas,” said Deputy Grand Chief Achneepineskum, as she congratulated the youth on their milestone accomplishment. She acknowledged the sacrifices, obstacles, and challenges the graduates faced.
Despite constant evacuations and displacement, the students persevered and remained resilient, determined to complete their high school education. Class valedictorian Colton Hughie highlighted the hardships and their resilience in his speech.
"We all had the to face the same situation and problems, hard work and hardship during these four years in high school. Having to leave the community because of the evacuations which caused the school to close or because of the heaters not working properly, which caused the pipes to burst one time and flooded the classrooms,” he said. “But all that also caused us to grow and mature, finding out more things about ourselves and about our history and culture. Those four years are finished, they are memories now - some bad, some good. I hope this has prepared most of us for the next chapter in our lives, 'adulthood'. So be proud of yourself for graduating high school, it is a huge achievement."
He encouraged his fellow graduates to seek out better education like colleges or universities so that the newer generation can look up to them and give them the motivation to make Kashechewan better and stronger.
Deputy Grand Chief Achneepineskum also extended congratulations to the youth on behalf of Chief Hosea Wesley and Council, adding another expression of recognition for the students' achievements.
