Award-winning author imparts wisdom on graduating students from the University of Windsor – Anishinabek News
WINDSOR— The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic causing the cancellation of a workshop for First Nations social workers in Windsor, Ont., led to fresh inspiration for 2020 university, college, and high school graduates from the award-winning author of the award-winning memoir, From the Ashes, Jesse Thistle.
Thistle was originally invited to speak about his life experiences, rising from a childhood of poverty and trauma to become a university professor and community activist, for workers helping the homeless at a workshop scheduled for late March. The event was sponsored by organizers at the Can-Am Friendship Centre and the student Indigenous law society at the University of Windsor, said Kim Noah, Aboriginal Housing Advocate at the Centre.
The speech morphed into a congratulatory address for graduating students in a perfectly logical way, according to the Friendship Centre’s Literacy Coordinator Bethany Rosebush.
“It seemed natural to match up Jesse, an incredibly accomplished student, professor, historian, and author, to deliver a commencement for Indigenous students. We hoped that FNMI students would be able to relate to Jesse and in doing so, would take his words of congratulation and encouragement to heart,” she explained.
