How it feels to take the stage as valedictorian of VSB's Indigenous Achievement Celebration

During a special high school graduation ceremony on Thursday, a cohort of IndigenousGrade 12 students got a chance to honour their achievement.

The studentsare part of aprogram provided by theVancouver School Board (VSB) in partnership with Indigenous communities in the Lower Mainland and the B.C. Ministry of Education.

The program brings together Indigenous students from different VSB high schoolsfor various classes, field trips and educational events throughout the school year.

Itculminates in the the Indigenous Achievement Celebration, which shines light on the rising graduation rate for Indigenous youth in B.C.

This year, the celebration'svaledictorian Nicholas Chayeskifrom Van Tech high school has Blackfoot,Metisand European heritage.

Chayeskisat down with host Gloria Macarenkoduring CBC's On the Coast to share what the ceremony means to him.

So how does it feel being the class of 2018's valedictorian?

It wasn't really something I expected to win.

There's a lot of really great people, so to be chosen is quite an honour.

You were chosen by a committee, based on what you would like to give a speech on. What did you submit?

I wanted to acknowledge where we've been, Canada as a whole.

We've been through some struggles and we're still continuing with these things. There's still oppression going on.

Also, I'm visibly white. So for me it was important to acknowledge that as well.

To all the other "passing white people" that have native bloodbut aren't really proud of it, I wanted to really bring that up.

We are all part of that same culture, and it's important to be proud of who you are.

That being said, what does it mean to you, graduating from an Indigenous education program?

Throughout high school, there aren't as many opportunities as I wished there were.

Being native, it's almost like you can't show who you fully are.

So being in this place where we're on the stage graduating among the other Aboriginal students, it's something we should all be proud of.

What makes thisIndigenous program special?

It kind of boils down to the culture itself.

White culture is very different from First Nations culture. There's a lot more storytelling. A lot more songs and dances.

[The program] focuses less on the academics and more on being a person out in the world.

This interview aired during CBC'sOn the Coaston June 14andhas been edited for clarity and structure.To hear the complete interview, click on the audio below.

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