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National Indigenous Peoples Day came with an extra reason to celebrate for graduates of First Nations University of Canada.
The university held convocation Saturday at the Queensbury Convention Centre in Regina, one day before National Indigenous Peoples Day and during the school’s 50th anniversary year.
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For many of the graduates, the timing made an already emotional day feel even more meaningful.
Randi LaRocque, who received a certificate in Indigenous journalism and communication, said the day felt like the end of one chapter and the beginning of another.
“I’m feeling stoked,” LaRocque said. “I’ve been in school for like six years, so finally get something. My certificate, my degree is soon to follow, so I’m super ecstatic.”
LaRocque said the ceremony stood out because of both the graduates being honoured and the university’s history.
“I love how everyone’s here,” LaRocque said. “It’s the 50th celebration of FNUniv, so I think that’s awesome. I love how culturally relevant it is too. So just amazing to be here.”
The school is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2026 and welcomed 169 graduates into a community of more than 7,000 alumni.
Randi LaRocque, a graduate of the Indigenous Journalism and Communication certificate program, poses for a photo during First Nations University of Canada’s convocation ceremony in Regina on Saturday. (Jacob Bamhour/980 CJME)
LaRocque said graduating during such a historic year felt special.
“While they’re celebrating us, we’re also celebrating those that came before us and those who are also going to come ahead of us,” LaRocque said. “So, I think it’s very special and a very awesome event.”
LaRocque said the timing with National Indigenous Peoples Day added another layer to the day.
“Honouring my Métis identity is awesome, and being able to celebrate and graduate from academia is also awesome,” LaRocque said.
“Being surrounded by so many Indigenous people, just celebrating me, other people, and our culture is awesome.”
For business administration graduates Lindsay Lerat and Tricia Caron, the day was also about friendship.
Lerat said she was nervous before crossing the stage, but the moment felt different once it was over.
“We were quite nervous at the beginning, but finally walked across the stage and kind of calming down a bit now,” Lerat said.
“It feels great to get the scroll and be here with my bestie Tricia, and be able to walk across the stage together.”
Caron had trouble sleeping before the ceremony.
“I was a part of the no-sleep club last night,” Caron said. “I had too many thoughts in my head, but now that we’re done, it still feels surreal, but it finally feels real.”
Lerat said the ceremony was smooth and meaningful.
“It was beautiful,” she said. “It wasn’t as long as I expected it to be, but there were only, I believe, 98 graduates there, and it went pretty smoothly. I loved it.”
Caron said the 50th anniversary made the day feel even bigger.
“I’ve never been to a graduation like this,” Caron said. “I think it was pretty stellar, if you ask me.”
Caron said the two friends did not initially know they would be part of the university’s 50th-anniversary graduating class.
“We actually didn’t realize it until about a month ago,” Caron said. “I sent a screenshot to Lindsay, and it was like, ‘Do you know it’s the 50th anniversary?’ So I think this is sort of a big deal.”
Lerat agreed.
“It actually feels very surreal, but an accomplishment nonetheless,” she said.
With National Indigenous Peoples Day being marked across the country, Lerat said the timing felt like everything came together.
“All the stars aligned for us to be here on this day,” Lerat said. “With it being National Indigenous Peoples Day, that’s also a blessing, as well as the 50th anniversary. So we are blessed all around.”
Caron said the moment felt full circle.
“To go back to our roots, to come back and convocate on a day not only a day, but a week, a month it just feels even bigger than it is,” Caron said. “I’m just grateful just to take part in this weekend.”
Both Caron and Lerat said education is still part of what comes next.
Caron plans to start a master’s degree at the end of August.
“To keep furthering my education, and just to keep striving to be the best possible version of myself,” she said.
Lerat said she plans to enjoy the summer before taking her next step.
“I’ve been trying to work so hard just to get to this point, and it’s finally time for me to enjoy myself before my next step, which is the master’s,” Lerat said. “Anything’s possible now.”
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