Native graduate accomplishments honored at annual Rez Wide Graduation
Idaho Power Scholarship recipients at the Rez Wide Graduation on June 6.
By ROSELYNN YAZZIE
Sho-Ban News
FORT HALL — The academic accomplishments of the Class of 2024 were honored at the Rez Wide Graduation Thursday, June 6 at the Shoshone-Bannock Hotel & Event Center.
Tribal Education Manager, Jessica James, said this was the biggest turnout the event has seen.
The event began with a welcome by Shoshone-Bannock Tribes Public Affairs Manager Echo Marshall.
Miss Shoshone-Bannock Develynn Hall acknowledged the start of the graduate’s new chapter. She introduced other royalty in attendance, including Humble Coby, and the Spring Creek Singers, and Fort Hall Veterans Organization’s Reginald Thorpe and Nolan Thorpe for bringing in the flags.
Fort Hall Business Council Treasurer Ladd Edmo said graduation was a great accomplishment that makes the families and council proud. He congratulated all graduates on every level and wished them great success in their future endeavors.
Edmo said one day one of them could be standing in a council seat as a tribal leader, or hold a position within the tribes.
He talked about growing up and trying to advance in every avenue available. He told graduates to look forward, go to college, or learn a trade. He encouraged them to find self-sustaining jobs and represent the Sho-Ban Tribes in a good way.
He ended his talk by offering a prayer.
Native student graduates that received the Agriculture Scholarship award.
Keynote speakers were accomplished tribal graduates, Jessica Matsaw, PhD Candidate at the University of Idaho; Joseph Chacon, MPH Graduate of Idaho State University; DeMar Galloway, BFA Graduate of the Institute of American Indian Arts & Valedictorian.
Matsaw quoted an educator she looks up to, “Every child deserves a champion – an adult who will never give up on them, who understands the power of connection, and insists that they become the best that they can possibly be.”
Her proudest educational moment was being a high school teacher to tribal youth. She’ll remember this class’s strength, bravery, and resilience. Her advice to them was to find their why, which will help them push through challenging times; and be why they will strive to make a difference or positive change.
“Your why will ground you and give you guidance and give you purpose,” she said.
Matsaw said the graduating Class of 2024 at Sho-Ban gave her a purpose and she found her why to pursue a doctorate in education. She’s officially done with her coursework and will be taking her preliminary exams next fall.
“Because of my why I have persevered,” she said. “Because of my students, I have persevered.”
Matsaw said her purpose in life is to protect children, to fight for them, “And to assist in creating a school system that honors and celebrates who we are as Newene.”
She expressed her pride for the students and said they were deserving of love, and respect, and not to be afraid to shine.
Keynote speakers, from left: Jessica Matsaw, Joseph Chacon and DeMar Galloway.
Joseph Chacon congratulated his fellow graduates and said it was a long tiring journey, but he was grateful to reach the finish line with everyone. He thanked his supporters throughout the years. He talked about an important time of transformation in his life and education path, which included his overcoming the struggles of active addiction.
He started by sharing his lowest times, saying he lost too many people.
During his active addiction, the recovery rate of those addicted to opioids was about five and a half percent and presently it doesn’t seem much better. However, Chacon said today’s tribal health system and Waapi Kani and Mental Wellness Center are doing amazing things. He encouraged them all to reach out if they needed to.
“Remember, no one and nothing exists alone and although we may feel like no one can understand our struggles, believe me, more people can relate to us than we think. We all need each other,” he said.
His transformation to his path to healing started in his mind, changing his thoughts and feelings from a defeated warrior to one that fed off his misperceived defeats. He asked himself, why he couldn’t beat the odds. Why can’t he fight this? How can I be better today? These questions run through his mind constantly. He believes it was in these questions he found his path to healing.
The support he was given helped him overcome. He rebuilt important relationships, finished his bachelor’s, received his master’s in public health, and found a career that helped him feel fulfilled.
Chacon believes there’s so much more they will accomplish in this life.
DeMar Galloway thanked the graduates for sharing in the moment of academic success. He said he was proud of them, as is everyone else, but they should be proud of themselves. Because despite all the various challenges they did it.
“For each and every one of you are now the blueprint, which future generations will utilize as a guide in their own path in academia, in life, and beyond. You’re now the guide in becoming a modern-day warrior. In today’s times, warriors are still needed, each one of you is now that warrior,” he said. “A warrior who will use that knowledge to protect and provide, not just for yourself, or your family, but for our community, for our tribe, and our people.”
Galloway encouraged graduates to continue to learn and grow, and just as importantly to continue to share the knowledge they attain among the people.
“Inspire others to follow in the path that all our relatives prayed for. That all our ancestors prayed for,” he said.
After the keynotes, awardee recipients were announced.
The Idaho Power Scholarship awardees were Amya Wadsworth; Jeremy Hernandez; Josie Raya; Raquel Pokibro; Robyn Williams; Stormie Perdash; Sunshine Shepherd; Unique Jim; Yamni Chandler; Yvette Towersap.
Agriculture Scholarship awardees were Amya Wadsworth, Waapi (Cedar) Washakie; Bradley Yupe; Kevyne Broncho; Sidney Fellows; and Trayson Bagley.
Those recognized for their achievement were graduate students, higher education graduates receiving bachelor’s and associate’s degrees, those who received certificates, high school graduates, GED graduates, and apprentices.
In closing, Fort Hall Business Council member Sammy Matsaw Jr. offered a few words to graduates. His message urged them to look for systems of support to help them along in their journey.
Various resources and information were available from Key Bank, ICCU, USDA, Fort Hall Fire Department, and College of Eastern Idaho.
The event is sponsored by the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes, 477 Education Employment & Training Department, and Tribal Youth Education Program.
