TERS graduates encouraged to ‘leave footprints worth following’
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agle River School graduates listened to words of encouragement from a former TERS Salish teacher and graduate during last Saturday’s commencement exercise.
Aggie Incashola said TERS has been her family since she first attended the tribal school for eighth grade in Dixon.
Incashola, who now works with the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes’ Preservation Department, taught Salish at the school for 10 years and left last year.
“A couple of you were lucky to survive having me as your teacher,” she said.
She lauded TERS’ instructors and said they go beyond what others wouldn’t even consider doing.
“If you ever need someone to talk to, they’ll be here to help,” she said.
She encouraged the graduates to “always try and leave footprints worth following … the only person you need to be better than is yesterday’s you.”
She called the graduates resilient, having overcome some huge obstacles, and “some of the strongest willed, most determined people I have ever had the honor of knowing.”
Prior to the ceremony, the graduates walked through a teepee to the native sounds of Mike Kenmille’s Chief Cliff Singers.
Each graduate was offered one year of free tuition at Salish Kootenai College.
Two Eagle River School 2017 graduates include: Danielle Marie Adler, Shay-Lyn Antoinette Mary Andrew, Shawnce’e Storm Brave Rock, Colleen Belle Brazill, Marsheelle Morae Bunce, Kristan Josephine Danny Hewankorn, Taelyn Kaeree Lafley, Jenna Morgan Mullaney, Mars-Emilio Maximiliano Sandoval, Kaylee Marymarie Schulz, Naomi Michelle Stevens and Malia Jo Vanderburg.
Lafley and Schulz graduated a year early.