Celebratory powwow held in honour of Treaty 4 grads

It is that time of year when proud graduates get to celebrate their academic success.

The 2016 graduates of Treaty 4 territory were honoured at a powwow held at the First Nations University of Canada on Wednesday.

The event was put on by the First Nations University of Canada with Scott Collegiate. The powwow honoured both high school and post-secondary graduates from all across Treaty 4 territory.

Ceane Dusyk, the Aboriginal Advocate from Scott Collegiate, worked with students at the high school to find ways they would like to be honoured for their achievement. The students expressed that they would like to mark the occasion in a more traditional way. 

Event grows in numbers

From there, the event only began to grow.  They invited schools from across the territory to join in on the festivities.

"We have schools from Montmartre, most of our public high schools here in the city are invited as well, and some of our reserves from outside the city as well. Anybody who wants to be honoured this way," said Dusyk.

Treaty 4 Pow wow

9 years ago

Duration 0:38

Treaty 4 Grad Pow wowThe event started in the early morning with a pipe ceremony, followed later in the morning by the grand entry of the graduates and more fun and festivities.

"It's a way for our students to be recognized about who they are, both personally and culturally as well," said Dusyk.

"As much of an honour as it is to walk across the stage… to be honoured in a way that's their background, in a traditional setting with elders and family beside them, it's even more important because it's recognizing their background."

Dusyk hopes to see this event become an annual occasion for Treaty 4 graduates for years to come.