About our powwow
The University of Saskatchewan (U of S), situated on Treaty 6 Territory and the Homeland of the Métis, has hosted a powwow on its Saskatoon campus for almost 30 years. Since 2009, the powwow has been held in the spring to celebrate the academic achievements of graduating First Nations, Métis and Inuit students from the U of S and Saskatchewan high schools.
Everyone welcome
Thousands of children from kindergarten to Grade 12 attend our annual Graduation Powwow. Attendees have the opportunity to:
- celebrate and honour Aboriginal graduates from Saskatchewan,
- listen to traditional First Nations drumming and singing,
- watch a variety of traditional First Nations dance styles and dress, and
- participate in educational children's workshops held in tipis and a Métis Red River cart
Head staff
This year's masters of ceremonies are Donald Speidel and Elmer Ballantyne. Arena directors are Timothy Eashappie and Ron McNab. The Head Singing Judge is Alphonse Obey.
In partnership with
Schedule
The Bowl, University of Saskatchewan
- 9:30 am High school graduates line up for grand entry
- 9:45 am Drum roll call
- 10 am Grand entry and honouring of high school graduates
- 10:30 am-12:30 pm: Children's area
Chaperone required. 20 minutes per student group. - 11 am Youth dance and drum competition
- 12:30 pm U of S graduates line up for honouring
U of S graduates: please check in at the Registration table in the Bowl between noon and 12:30 pm - 1 pm Honouring of U of S graduates
- 1:30-3 pm: Children's area
Chaperone required. 20 minutes per student group. - 2–4 pm Adult dance and drum competition
Map, drop-off, parking
Drop-off and parking
We suggest you drop off attendees in front of the Physical Activity Centre (PAC) and walk to the Bowl from there. School buses have reserved parking on campus, the powwow important locations map shows where to park school busses.
Small vans or personal vehicles may park in the Stadium Parkade ($5 per day with no reentry). There is also overflow parking in the Saskatoon Fieldhouse overflow lot, located off of Preston Ave. (see powwow important locations map for location.)
Photos and video
The University of Saskatchewan will be taking photographs and videos (including a live video on Facebook) of event participants. Some of the videos and photographs taken will be posted on social media sites and webpages and will be used on future promotional material.
Questions?
Contact the Aboriginal Students’ Centre at 306-966-5790 or asc.powwow@usask.ca.
Watch live
Watch morning ceremony
Tune in on Wednesday, May 31 at 10 am to watch our powwow's grand entry and honouring of Saskatchewan Indigenous high school graduates.
Watch afternoon ceremony
At 1 pm on Wednesday, May 31, we will honour Indigenous U of S graduates. Tune in to help us celebrate their achievements.
Register to attend
School groups and Grade 12 graduates
Registration is closed. Please email questions to asc.powwow@usask.ca.
Students of all ages are welcome to attend the powwow! Please have one person from your school register all students who plan on attending the powwow, including any graduating Grade 12 Aboriginal students.
Drummers and dancers
Registration is closed. Please email questions to asc.powwow@usask.ca.
Participants are invited to sign up onilne or in person the day of the event. All competitors 16 and over are required to provide a Social Insurance Number.
More than $20,000 in competition and day pay money
U of S graduating students
If you're a Métis, First Nations or Inuit U of S student, register to attend the Graduation Powwow when you apply to graduate in PAWS.
In April, all self-declared Aboriginal students who applied to graduate will be contacted by someone at the Aboriginal Students' Centre to confirm whether or not they are attending the powwow.
Powwow expo
The expo is a great opportunity for you to promote your organization and engage with powwow attendees, and for artisans to market their products.
Register for a table online.
Sponsorship opportunities
Sponsorship benefits
Becoming an official sponsor of the U of S Graduation Powwow places you in a unique position to:
- showcase your organization’s commitment to celebrate First Nations, Métis, and Inuit scholarship, and
- raise your organization’s profile and image among the campus and Aboriginal communities (more than 3,000 people in total).
For more information about getting involved with the Graduation Powwow, please contact Graeme Joseph by email at graeme.joseph@usask.ca or by telephone at 306-966-7287.