Mr


Mr. Chancellor, Madam President, Members of the Board of 

Governors, Members of Senate, Elders, honoured guests, graduates, 

ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls 

 

Tansi – Good morning 

 

We give thanks to the Great Spirit for bringing us together to celebrate 

the achievements of those who are graduating today in Education, 

Human Ecology and Human and Nutritional Sciences. 

 

Graduates, today is your day, the day you receive your reward for your 

hard work, commitment and the many sacrifices you have made along 

the way to prepare yourselves for your chosen vocation. As a teacher, I 

can relate to those who are entering the teaching profession. 

 

As I thought of your extensive preparation of five years or more, I 

remembered my own experience over 50 years ago. Fresh out of grade 

twelve, my preparation was a 6-week summer school at the Manitoba 

Normal School. It was a crash course in teaching after which we 

received a permit to teach. All I can recall about that summer school is 

learning how to balance an attendance register, playing softball and 

going for walks in Assiniboine Park. The Normal School that became 

the Teachers’ College is now the Mennonite University. 

 

There was a serious shortage of teachers at that time and grade eleven 

and twelve students were encouraged to obtain permits to teach. I 

started out in a one-room school with 30 children in grades one to eight 

at a salary of $1600 a year or $152 a month after deductions. Now you 

will likely make more than that in a day (and I can make it in an hour). 

 

How does a person teach 30 children in eight different grades? What a 

challenge! I’ll tell you how I survived. I survived by the example of my 

favourite teachers. 

 

--I liked the teachers who were kind to me …who showed me respect 

and who trusted me. 

 

--I liked the teachers who believed in me, challenged me and gave me 

responsibilities. 

 



--I like the teachers who took the time to visit my family, who joined us 

in the playground, who tramped through the snow with us to get a 

Christmas tree. 

 

--I liked the teachers who laughed. 

 

I was fortunate to have such teachers. I thank the Great Spirit for those 

teachers because they taught me by example, which is the traditional 

method practiced by our people. It isn’t enough to have knowledge, to 

be smart, to be outstanding in science, math or English. I believe that, 

more importantly, it is the human qualities that determine your 

effectiveness and success as at teacher. 

 

We are not always conscious of how we gain those human qualities. 

What I do know is that to possess those qualities of respect, 

understanding, trust and kindness, one must believe in the potential of 

all people. One must respect the cultural and linguistic differences of all 

races of people. 

 

Today, as teachers, you will have a very different classroom from those 

of 50 years ago. 

 

Today, you will in all very likely have students from virtually anywhere 

in the world. Can you be an expert in all cultures? Not likely ---but if 

you practice the old adage of our people that “everyone is a teacher and 

everyone is a learner”, you can validate the unique experiences of each 

child in your class. 

 

What we must acknowledge is the fact that, we, in Canada, do not have 

one common culture with a homogeneous set of values. To assume we 

do, is to perpetuate the practice of assimilation that defeats the purpose 

of education. Students deserve an education that “will enhance their 

sense of identity and confidence in their personal worth and ability”. 

 

The challenge lies with you, the graduates of today, to make a difference 

in our classrooms… to create a truly Canadian mosaic with all its 

richness. 

 

Graduates, may you be remembered as a favourite teacher. 

Congratulations human ecology, human nutritional sciences graduates,  



and fellow teachers. I am honoured to share this day with you and to 

receive an honorary degree from the University of Manitoba  

 

Kesa manito, meaninan muskowiseewin Great spirit, give us strength 

Kwask kita isi pimatisiyak   to live a good life, 

Kuniwaniminan, kiskinootahinan  keep us, guide us 

Oma ka kisikak, mena kakikay  this day and forevermore  

 

Ekosi       All my relations. 

 

 

 

Verna J. Kirkness 

May 29, 2008