Kwantlen Holds Third Annual Pow Wow in Surrey
Celebration of Aboriginal culture important for all members of KPU
On Sept. 19 Kwantlen Polytechnic University hosted its third annual pow wow at the Surrey campus. The main component of the pow wow is a dance competition where members of individual age and gender brackets compete for first, second and third place cash prizes.
“It’s just getting bigger, that’s the truth of it. Every year, I’m noticing it increase in size and its outreach,” says Justin Bige, who is a member of the pow wow committee and the Aboriginal students representative for the Kwantlen Student Association. In 2013, Bige’s sister, Melinda, started Kwantlen’s tradition of holding a pow wow when she herself was the Aboriginal students representative. One of Bige’s responsibilities, then and now, was planning the budget and getting the event approved by the KSA.
“It’s one of the most important events of the year for me [and] I think it’s one of the most important events all year for KPU,” says Bige. “No matter what the event is, you almost never see how many people you see here, and I think that is just incredible.”
On the day of the pow wow the gym in the Cedar building was packed with people ranging from all ages ready to cheer on the drummers and dancers. The event was meant to be a celebration of Aboriginal culture, and as such the dancers appeared in traditional dress while moving to traditional drums, and often praying as well.
Every part of the ceremony was treated with care and pride. The master of the ceremony, John Miller, stated that all those in attendance should, “Take pride in the ceremony and take pride in the pow wow.”
“I hope the attendees feel welcome,” says Bige. “I hope the attendees pick up on the energy that comes out of this pow wow. It is a very healing place, it’s a very warm place, it’s a good place and that’s what I want them to get out of that. Purely that energy that the pow wow exists in. Our namesake is Kwantlen, and that’s extremely important. When it comes to First Nation tradition, names that are given come with a responsibility. You’ve got to honour the name.”
The pow wow, despite only being created three years ago, is already becoming an integral part of life at KPU. Everyone who took a part in it, including Bige, hopes to keep it that way.
“There is so much cultural significance,” says Bige. “I can’t imagine it not being important.”
