11 uOttawa First Nations students graduate in Common Law

This year’s June 3 Faculty of Law, Common Law Section Convocation was particularly memorable. Nine First Nations graduates received their diplomas. To represent their First Nations heritage, the students wore their own graduation stoles designed in the school's colours, with the University of Ottawa logo and each student’s nation's symbol side by side.

In total, 11 First Nations students graduated from Common Law this year. One of the graduates was Frankie Cote, an Anishinabeg from the Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg of the Algonquin Nation. Frankie is a second generation graduate from Common Law. His mother, Claudette Commanda-Cote, daughter of the late Chief William Commanda, received her LLB in 1997. She was on stage to congratulate all First Nations graduates. Frankie, a father of three, says he will encourage his children to follow in his and his mother’s footsteps.

“To sum up my education experience, I draw upon a teaching of the Anishinabeg, ‘look to your sons and daughters, for they are your future,’” says Frankie. “My family knows that I have done this for them, for education is the passport to the future, and education is the bootstrap First Nations communities must use to improve their social and economic conditions. Thus, I say I have done this for my children, so they can have a brighter future.”

The University of Ottawa applauds all First Nations graduates in the Common Law Section for their achievement and wishes them the best of luck in their future endeavours.

Published: June 2012
Text: Geneviève Joly
Photo: Robert Lacombe