Indigenous graduates celebrated at post-secondary powwows in Winnipeg

Taylor Galvin had to overcome a lot of obstacles during her six years studying environmental studies at the University of Manitoba, butshe finally got to celebrate reaching the end of part of the journey on Saturday with more than 150 of her fellow Indigenous graduates.

"I feel over the moon. I've been a student for long enough, and it's very exciting to be part of the graduation powwow today," Galvin told CBC News.

The Anishinaabekwe graduate from Brokenhead Ojibway First Nation is among 478 Indigenous students graduating from U of M programs this term. The university celebrated those grads at its 35th annual graduation powwow on Saturday.

"It's a huge way for all of us to come together to celebrate the achievements and the successes of Indigenous students and our leaders," said Galvin, who will soon be starting her masters in environmental geography, with a focus on Indigenous-protected land in Manitoba.

"We come from very different backgrounds I overcame addictions, I've been in recovery throughout my time here at the university."

The day-long event brought together more than 150 Indigenous students and their friends and families, as well as Indigenous veterans and elders, for a pipe ceremony, traditional dance and drumming performances and a community feast,said Carla Loewen, the director of the U of M's Indigenous student centre.

Deborah Hatton, who is Mohawk and from Tyendinaga, Ont., said the day gives her a chance to show her pride for her Indigenous identity.

The 65-year-old PhD grad wore a purplehandmade dress with white ribbonsto show off her community's colours.

"My official graduation was in October 2023, but this being so much more to be able to do it in an actual powwow. It gives me a chance to show everyone that I am Indigenous," said Hatton, who earned a PhD in behavioural psychology and disability studies.

For Ryan Ketchum, who's from Wauzhushk Onigum Nation in Ontario and earned a bachelor of science in electrical engineering, Saturday's celebration felt surreal.

"I get this overwhelming sense of imposter syndrome, but I'm here and I'm with these people graduating and it feels amazing," he said.

Ketchum started his degree in 2016, but took some years off school during the pandemic.

He said it's encouraging to see so many Indigenous students graduate alongside him.

"It's inspiring to me to know while I'm here doing this and someone might look at me and say, 'Hey, I maybe could do that too,'" said Ketchum.

The University of Winnipeg also honoured its Indigenous grads. On Sunday, it hosted its 19th annual graduation powwow complete with a special danceto mark Red Dress Day, which is observed nationally on May 5.

"It's a really exciting day," said Angeline Nelson, who works at the university. She said more than 50 Indigenous students are graduating from U of W programs this term.

The university invitedtraditional dancers to wear red to and performin their preferred style as part of the event, Nelson added. That includesHarmony Williams, who recently learned fancy shawl dancing to reconnect with her culture.

Williams wore a red skirt that she made with her foster mother. Her biological mother, Jana Williams, was murdered in 2021.

"I'm just trying to like carry on the tradition of her, make sure that she's seeing that I'm doing good, and not going down the wrong path," Williams told CBC News on Sunday.

"Being here today I really feel her a lot."

Williams planson going to Red River College Polytechnic, which held its 24th annual graduation powwow on Friday,to study child care next year. She said it's encouraging to see Indigenous grads "break the cycle."

"A lot of people don't get the chance to graduate," she said.