大象传媒

The 大象传媒 First Nations, M茅tis and Inuit Student Association (FNMISA) is excited to host an inaugural powwow at Burnaby campus, to celebrate the end of the school year and honour the achievements of Indigenous students past and present.

鈥淭his is something the association has wanted to put together for a long time,鈥� says Kali King Stierle, a fifth year student at 大象传媒 and treasurer for FNMISA. Her older sister, Raven King Stierle, is in her first year at 大象传媒 as a transfer student, and serves as FNMISA鈥檚 Indigenous Community and External Affairs, Special Events Coordinator. The King Stierles are of German, M茅tis and Cree descent, from Peepeekisis Cree Nation in Treaty 4 territory, Saskatchewan. Together, they make up the FNMISA Powwow organizing committee.

Kali, who has been on the association鈥檚 board for four years, describes past members鈥� efforts to bring this form of ceremony to Burnaby campus, unfortunately set aside by the COVID-19 pandemic. While many are now alumni, they have continued to support the organization of the powwow.

For the pair, the ceremony鈥檚 purpose is not only to honour the journey undertaken by Indigenous students, but to share culture, build relationships and celebrate as one.

鈥淚t鈥檚 about community, and it鈥檚 not just for the Indigenous community,鈥� says Kali, who emphasizes that settlers and newcomers are also welcome to attend. 鈥淚t鈥檚 about promoting awareness and sharing knowledge about Indigenous community and culture. This is about building and strengthening connections.鈥�

Powwows are a ceremony and celebration involving drumming, singing and dancing. There are two types of powwow, explain the King Stierles 鈥� traditional and competition. In the traditional format, all performers receive a small honorarium for their participation, while in competition, the performers compete for larger monetary awards in their respective categories.

By hosting a traditional powwow, the King Stierles hope to make the event accessible to all and support their goal of building bridges among community members.

鈥淐ompetition powwows can be a little intimidating to new dancers because they are competing for money, and it鈥檚 not just the dancing that鈥檚 being judged. It鈥檚 the regalia you鈥檙e wearing, how well you carry that regalia, how you honour that regalia,鈥� says Raven. 鈥淭raditional powwows are a little bit more accessible to new dancers or dancers that may not have a full regalia set yet. So you see a more diverse mix of dancers who have been dancing for years and dancers who have just started.鈥�

鈥淏oth are ceremonial,鈥� says Kali, 鈥渂ut competition has higher stakes.鈥�

鈥淚t鈥檚 not a performance that we鈥檙e putting on, it鈥檚 a ceremony that we鈥檙e actively taking part in,鈥� says Raven. 鈥淓ven for those who aren鈥檛 dancing, spectators and attendees are actively participating.鈥� She adds that this powwow is intertribal. 鈥淚t鈥檚 something we can share with all nations."

While powwows originate from the prairies and are not traditional to the west coast, the diaspora of Indigenous communities in B.C. have led to its practice locally.

鈥淚t becomes a fusion鈥搃t is that exchanging of culture across territories,鈥� says Raven. 鈥淭here鈥檚 almost a west coast taste. It makes the ceremony feel like it鈥檚 rooted in place and is specific to this community.鈥�

Community has been central to the sisters鈥� learning and planning. The pair frequently attend powwow nights in Vancouver, gifting tobacco as thanks for others鈥� teachings.

鈥淲e can鈥檛 take credit for all this,鈥� say the King Stierles. 鈥淭here are a lot of other Indigenous community members who have helped us conceptualize this and also make it happen.鈥�