Students of the Sakewew High School Class of 2025 are pictured in a commemorative photo celebrating their graduation in North Battleford. The class of 24 included co-valedictorians Breanna Pritchard and Tamia Lewis. (Sakewew High School/Facebook)

By Kenneth Cheung

A NEW CHAPTER BEGINS

‘They are family’: Sakewew High School honours resilient Class of 2025

Jun 28, 2025 | 2:33 PM

The principal of Sakewew High School says this year’s graduates have shown remarkable perseverance, strength and connection to culture — and their families, teachers and community couldn’t be prouder.

“It was really a beautiful event,” said principal Shauna Bugler, describing the ceremony held on June 26.

“We had 24 graduates and their families attend. The Battlefords First Nations Joint Board of Education came in, and some dignitaries too. We brought our flags in and honoured the grads as they walked in with the powwow drumming.”

Two students — Breanna Pritchard and Tamia Lewis — were this year’s co-valedictorians. They shared stories about perseverance, Bugler said.

For their grad quotes, Pritchard remarked: “The tassel was worth the hassle.”

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Lewis added: “Culture beats in your chest like a drum — it guides you forward.”

“It was really touching to see some of our graduates get through, after going through some difficult things in life,” she said. “Some of our kids had tough obstacles to overcome, and it was just wonderful to see them make it through.”

Sakewew High School co-valedictorians Breanna Pritchard, left, and Tamia Lewis shared stories of perseverance during this year’s graduation ceremony in North Battleford. (Photo courtesy/ Sakewew High School)

The city’s only Indigenous high school is small, which Bugler says helps build a “family feel” that stays with students even after they graduate.

“It’s not only about the academics for us, but about teaching the kids ways to deal with obstacles,” she said. “We appreciate and encourage them to come back and share with us what’s going on in their lives. They are family.”

This year’s class included several young parents who crossed the stage with their children beside them.

“We have lots of young mothers that come through this program,” Bugler said. “We had five or six parent grads. They had their little babies at the graduation, and it’s just so wonderful to see them still make it through.”

(Sakewew High School/Facebook)

Bugler hopes the wider community recognizes how important the school’s cultural teachings are for students’ identity and well-being.

“We are able to bring in the cultural component, which the kids need for their identity, to feel good about themselves,” she said. “Within that we build relationships so they have strength in numbers — people who are cheering them on and encouraging them to continue.”

Students are reminded they’re always welcome to return — for a visit, for support, or to finish what they started.

“Family first, life first, and then they can come back and continue when they’re ready,” Bugler said.

(Sakewew High School/Facebook)

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Kenneth.Cheung@pattisonmedia.com