Family and friends gathered yesterday in Saskatoon to celebrate the achievements of the student in their lives.

Around 200 graduates from the Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technologies received their diplomas or certificates yesterday at convocation.

That was just a fraction of those who graduated this year, though: there were around 2,600 graduates across all of SIIT's programs and campuses.

SIIT has been offering programs for 30 years in areas such as adult basic education, aircraft maintenance engineer, business administration and information technology, community and health studies, professional development and trades and industrial training.

"I can tell this is an institution like no other in the province and all of Canada," Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada told the crowd, reflecting on the sense of family amongst students and staff at the school's celebration.

For more photos from SIIT's convocation, please visit our photo gallery. 

The school's president, Riel Bellegarde, commented that there were two significant days for him this past year.

"The first, when you, the student body, walked through the doors that first week of September, making SIIT your institute of choice.

"The second, today."

He told the students he is very excited about the potential each of them has, and told them "you are in demand" whether they choose to stay and work in Saskatchewan or travel across Canada.