Ryerson Pow Wow returns Sept. 21 to celebrate 20th anniversary
Photo: Graduate students Riley Kucheran (right) and Laura Heidenheim are relaunching the Ryerson Pow Wow on Sept. 21. Photo by Narrative Drive.
On Sept. 21, two graduate students are bringing an important Indigenous tradition back to campus for the first time since 2001.
Riley Kucheran, an Ojibway communication and culture (ComCult) PhD student, and Laura Heidenheim, a ComCult master鈥檚 student working towards Indigenous allyship, are the student leads of the , hosted by , a transdisciplinary Indigenous centre for research and creation based in the Faculty of Communication and Design. Open to the public, the community event will be held in Kerr Hall Gym and commemorate the 20th anniversary of the first Ryerson Pow Wow. Activities include a sunrise ceremony, Indigenous dancing, drumming, singing, craft vendors and more.
In July, the university unveiled a plaque next to the Egerton Ryerson statue on Gould St. that contextualizes the founder鈥檚 role in the establishment of Canada鈥檚 residential school system. Similar to the plaque installation, hosting an annual pow wow was one of the recommendations of Ryerson鈥檚 community consultation report in response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada. The Ryerson Pow Wow marks the beginning of a series of Indigenous events taking place on campus throughout the year.
鈥淭he Ryerson Pow Wow is just another step on a long journey,鈥� said Kucheran. 鈥淥ur vision for the relaunched Pow Wow spans generations. We want to see it grow to a whole week of programming鈥攃ommunity feasts, cultural teachings, creative exhibitions, film screenings, an evening concert and more. We want the Pow Wow to be written into Ryerson鈥檚 DNA, to honour our past while looking to the future.鈥�
Kucheran met Heidenheim when he volunteered for her research project, which documents and honours the lives of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, Transgender and Two-Spirit People.
鈥淲hen you attend a school named Ryerson, it鈥檚 important to understand the history and legacy behind it, and challenge settler colonialism,鈥� said Heidenheim. 鈥淲e hope students from all backgrounds come and experience how amazing it is to integrate Indigenous culture into our community.鈥�
A pow wow is a traditional Indigenous gathering for community members from all nations to meet and celebrate their culture through music and dance. In 1998, Ryerson became the first Toronto university to host a traditional pow wow, which continued for several years.
鈥淭he Ryerson Pow Wow is a beautiful way of celebrating Indigenous presence and culture on campus and in urban centres like Toronto,鈥� said Lila Pine, a new media professor and director of Saagajiwe. 鈥淲e hope this becomes a recurring event on the Ryerson calendar that all community members participate in and look forward to each year.鈥�