'I'm just thankful': Indigenous group graduates from University of Winnipeg

A first in the University of Winnipeg’s faculty of education was celebrated at convocation Friday.

A first in the University of Winnipeg’s faculty of education was celebrated at convocation Friday.

Nine Indigenous women in the Head Start program crossed the stage to receive their diplomas in developmental studies. According to the University of Winnipeg, it is the first time the number of Indigenous graduates in the program has outnumbered non-Indigenous grads.

“These women have been working so hard for many years, just before the pandemic, and we have been waiting for this day for a very long time,” said Sheri-Lynn Skwarchuk, director of the development studies program in the faculty of education.

Skwarchuk said the Aboriginal Head Start Program approached the University of Winnipeg to allow people who have been working in northern and rural communities an opportunity to upgrade their skills.

“Some of them hadn’t even graduated high school,” she said. “If you've been working in early childhood and you have your ECE two degree, we're going to work together, and we're going to get this done, and you're going to get your first university degree.”

CTV News Winnipeg spoke with four of the women in the program, who shared their stories of pride, struggle and relief of graduating.