March 8, Northwest College held a ceremony with guest speakers Tavia Laliberte, president of Northwest College, and elder Mary Kahpeaysewat in honour of International Women's Day.
The campaign for International Women’s Day this year was “Be Bold For Change,” something both women addressed in their speeches to the mixed crowd of men and women who filled the college’s student centre.
The event also recognized the achievements of nine female students who were presented with Student Leadership Awards.
Laliberte delivered the opening speech of the event and highlighted the issue of domestic abuse in Saskatchewan. The problem has been one that has touched the community of Northwest College and one that Laliberte felt needed to be addressed.
"If we don't talk about it, we can't get any traction," she said following the ceremony.
Laliberte made reference to the lack of government-level legislation and services in Saskatchewan compared to other provinces, but also expressed pride in leading an institution that provides social support to its students.
Speaking on why events like International Women's Day are important for students, Laliberte noted the high female population at the North Battleford campus. Moreover, Laliberte said the intention of her speech was to start a conversation about domestic violence and not "sweep it under the rug."
"It was really important for me to speak about it with the students so they recognize they, too, have a voice," said Laliberte, adding, "We can't start the healing process until we recognize some of the challenges within our community."
Kahpeaysewat followed Laliberte and spoke on the correlation between domestic abuse and substance abuse, both issues she has dealt with. She spoke optimistically, holding up herself as an example to students of someone who escaped the cycle through rehabilitation and employment.
Kahpeaysewat ended her speech with a word to the women, and some men, in attendance, saying "I'm so proud of you, even though some of you I do not know, I'm proud of you. You're here, in a school, trying to better yourself."
