U of A celebrates fourth annual Indigenous Celebration Week 

The University of Alberta celebrated its fourth annual Indigenous Celebration Week (ICW) from January 28–31. Events took place throughout the week, revolving around the theme of Indigenous Futures. 

Opening Ceremony and Indigenous Futurisms Panel

Sophie Martel, president of the Indigenous Students Union (ISU), spoke with The Gateway about the week’s events. 

On Tuesday, January 28, an opening Pipe Ceremony was held in the KIVA Room of the Education North building. This marked the third year that ICW has opened with a pipe ceremony. 

“That ceremony is very healing in a lot of ways. To be able to start the week like that and be able to pray is important. It just sets the tone for the entire week,” Martel said.  

Martel described the pipe ceremony as a chance to “connect with the people in the room, with your ancestors, and your future descendants.”

Following the pipe ceremony, an Indigenous Futurisms Panel took place in the Dinwoodie Lounge at the Students’ Union Building (SUB). Chelsea Vowel, a Métis writer and assistant lecturer in the faculty of Native studies, presented at the panel.

“I love how Vowel frames a lot of her work, it’s so important and so impactful,” Martel said. 

At the panel, Vowel spoke on what Indigenous futures can look like, as well as gave away copies of her book Buffalo is the New Buffalo.

“The panel was a great chance to be able to learn how these ideas can begin to change Indigenous worldviews as well as how we can reframe our thinking, our art, and our work in a decolonized way,” Martel said. 

Later that day, a Careers Event took place in the Cascade Room in SUB. According to Martel, the event gave Indigenous students a space to consider career options.

“The event was a way to connect Indigenous students with Indigenous professionals that might be in their field of interest,” Martel said. 

Indigenous Sustainability and Two-Spirit Drag Workshop

On Wednesday, January 29, an Indigenous Sustainability Panel was held in the Cascade Room. 

The panel featured four Indigenous speakers: Britney Supernault, an author and activist from East Prairie Métis Settlement; Mandy Bayha, from Great Bear Lake, who was previously the director of the Department of Culture, Language, and Spirituality for Délįnę Got’įnę Government; Paulina Johnson, from Samson Cree Nation, who is an assistant professor in the department of sociology; and Aidan Dachuk, a fourth-year student who studying land reclamation at the U of A.

Martel emphasized the panel’s importance, saying it helped “to be able to have Indigenous voices heard when it comes to talks about sustainability.”

She also noted Indigenous culture’s focus on preserving and respecting the earth.

“A lot of our teachings come from being stewards or custodians of the earth and Mother Earth herself,” Martel explained. 

Following the panel, a Two-Spirit Drag Workshop took place in the Orion Room of SUB, led by Tugs, a local drag king.

Martel explained the importance of Two-Spirit individuals in Indigenous cultures.

“Two-Spirit people have always been so integral to our cultures because they hold both feminine and masculine energies in them and that’s so powerful.”

“To be able to represent them through a workshop and through something that’s celebratory and fun is so important,” Martel added.

Indigenous Feast and Tia Wood concert

On Thursday, January 30, there was an Indigenous Feast for Indigenous students. According to Martel, the feast provided the chance for Indigenous students to eat traditional foods they wouldn’t otherwise have access to. 

“It’s really hard to find those foods on campus or even in the city,” Martel said. 

That evening, Tia Wood performed at the Horowitz Theatre, with Tiny Tots as the opening act.

From Saddle Lake Cree Nation, Tia Wood is a musician currently living in Los Angeles (L.A.), California. “We worked hard to get a hold of her management to be able to have her here,” Martel said. 

Focusing on the theme of Indigenous Futures, Martel said that they wanted the concert to be a youth event. 

“It’s going to be an amazing thing and that’s why we wanted it to be youth night. So we could see our youth and how they’re celebrating the culture, and so that we can celebrate them,” Martel explained. 

Indigenous Market wraps up the week

Closing off ICW, there was an Indigenous Market on the main floor of SUB from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Friday, January 31.

Martel expressed that she was grateful to have a week to celebrate Indigenous culture on campus.

“It’s lovely to be able to have this time to put towards all of the students and all the scholars that are here and work so hard to revitalize our culture. So for me, it’s just a deep feeling of gratitude for everybody that participates in these [events] and that I have the opportunity to work with,” Martel said.