Visitors travel to Regina for 45th annual FNUniv Spring Celebration Powwow
Visitors from across the province and beyond travelled to Regina for the 45th annual First Nations University of Canada (FNUniv) Spring Powwow.
The competition event regularly brings in powwow drum groups from across North America, making it an exciting contest for spectators.
Henry Gardipy has been a member of the Wild Horse drum group since the mid 1990’s. Over that span, he has sung with over five different groups of singers under the Wild Horse name.
For Gardipy, powwow singing is closely tied with family lineage.
“It’s generational. Today, a lot of singers are born into this way of life,” he said.
Treian Whitehead has been singing powwow since he was six years old. He is a member of the Thunder Dancing Horse drum group and attributes singing to giving him a better life.
“Drumming has been amazing. It takes me places I never thought I would go in my life. Getting that skill set of singing, it opens up a lot of doors for not only me, but the people I sing with,” Whitehead said.
Cherish Jean-Baptiste, the chair of the FNUniv Powwow committee said getting talented drum groups to come and perform is an engagement built on respect. The drum is a significant object signifying the beat of Mother Earth and must be given the appropriate respect.
“Without the singers coming, we wouldn’t be able to host this beautiful celebration. This is why it’s very important to have singers come and treat them well while they’re here,” Jean-Baptiste said.
For many years, the FNUniv powwow was one of the first events of the year where singers and dancers could get active after the winter season.
Whitehead hopes to see new faces joining the powwow circle this year.
“If you’re starting out singing and you’re a beginner, I encourage you to keep going. Keep pushing through,” he said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Trump confronts repeated boos during raucous Libertarian convention speech
Donald Trump was booed repeatedly while addressing Saturday night’s Libertarian Party National Convention.
This type of screen time has the worst effect on kids: experts
According to some experts, there is one type of screen time that is continuously excessive, and it's having a severe effect on our children.
Family of toddler found dead at small-town Ont. daycare no closer to answers after year of investigation
A year has passed since two-year-old Vienna Irwin was found on the property of a home-based daycare in small-town Ontario, but her family says they are no closer to answers of what happened that day.
Grayson Murray, two-time PGA Tour winner, dead at 30
Two-time PGA Tour winner Grayson Murray died Saturday morning at age 30, one day after he withdrew from the Charles Schwab Cup Challenge at Colonial.
Humboldt Broncos crash victims and families react to decision to deport truck driver
The family of one of the victims of the Humboldt Broncos bus crash in 2018 says they are 'thankful' for a decision by a Calgary immigration board to deport the driver of the truck involved.
Fatal plane crash reported near Squamish, B.C.
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada has confirmed it is working with local Mounties and the BC Coroners Service after a plane crash near Squamish, B.C. Friday night.
'God forgives but we don’t': Loud outburst from stabbing victim’s family during sentencing hearing
An emotional outburst in a London, Ont. courtroom Friday disrupted the sentencing hearing of a woman who pleaded guilty for her part in the death of 29-year-old Mohammed Abdallah.
Three dead after vehicle plunged down a 100-foot embankment in Shediac, N.B.
Three people have died after a vehicle veered off the road in Shediac N.B., Friday morning.
Appeal denied for Edmonton soldier accused of trying to kill her 3 children
An Edmonton woman found guilty of trying to kill her three children has been denied an appeal.