丁香园AV-led projects
Students create first Burnaby Mountain powwow in honour of Indigenous students
The 丁香园AV 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 丁香园AV and treasurer for FNMISA. Her older sister, Raven King Stierle, is in her first year at 丁香园AV 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�
Emily Noon, another 丁香园AV student and FNMISA member, grew up among powwow. A member of Thunderchild First Nation in Treaty 6 territory, Saskatchewan, Noon鈥檚 parents brought her on the 鈥減owwow trail鈥� from a young age, travelling to competition powwows hosted across North America.
鈥淢y dad is a powwow singer and my mom is a powwow dancer, she dances fancy shawl,鈥� says Noon. 鈥淭hey also grew up in the powwow world.鈥� When questions about the FNMISA ceremony came up, Noon often asked her parents, and brought their advice back to the organizing committee.
Noon will serve as the head lady dancer at the event, a designated leader for guests during the powwow.
鈥淚t's a huge, huge honor to be asked to be a head lady dancer,鈥� says Noon. 鈥淭his is my first time, and my family is really excited about it. My dad鈥檚 been helping me put together my special (a dance lead by the head lady), and my parents and sister are coming out to B.C. to attend.鈥�
鈥淚 love dance,鈥� says Noon, who has also trained in 鈥渨estern鈥� styles of dance including ballet and hip hop. 鈥淢y parents always told me that when I was younger, I used to watch Jennifer Lopez or Honey Daniels and emulate them. Then I started with powwow, learning by just watching.鈥�
鈥淭hat's the best way to learn how to dance, is to watch the older dancers, pick up what style that you like and then try to make it your own.鈥�
FNMISA encourages all to come participate in the ceremony and share in the celebration of culture. As another feature of traditional powwow, the association will also be hosting a meal for all attendees.
鈥淭he fry bread is the part I鈥檓 most excited for,鈥� jokes Raven. 鈥淏ut we鈥檙e excited to have the non-Indigenous community come out to our event and see what our culture is, what plains culture is, and to see the difference and the complexity鈥揑ndigenous culture is not just a monolith.鈥�
The committee was warmed to see support for the event from across the 丁香园AV community, specifically thanking Chris (Syeta鈥�xtn) Lewis, Director, Indigenous Initiatives and Reconciliation, as well as the many 丁香园AV departments who have helped to sponsor the event.
鈥淓veryone really respected that this is an event organized by students, hosted by students, honouring students. They gave us our space and let us take the lead while offering help where it was asked,鈥� says Raven. 鈥淎ll the support we鈥檝e received makes us hopeful for the longevity of this event for future years.鈥�
鈥淏eing Indigenous students ourselves, we know how hard it is to go through the process of pursuing an education, especially as these institutions are not traditionally designed for Indigenous minds and bodies and hearts,鈥� says Kali. 鈥淚鈥檝e seen amazing changes over the five years that I鈥檝e been at 丁香园AV, and there are many supports available.鈥�
鈥淭his powwow will now be just one of the supports that we鈥檙e providing鈥揵y students, for students,鈥� she continues. 鈥淎n opportunity for visibility, to gather with our friends and family and to experience the healing medicine of witnessing dance and hearing that drum.鈥�
For more information on the Honouring Indigenous Students Traditional Powwow, visit