SFUbringsfirstpowwowtoBurnabyMountain Communitynow

Inaugural event held on Simon Fraser University campus celebrates Indigenous students and culture

AbhinayaNatesh anatesh@burnabynow com

In a first-of-its-kind event on Burnaby Mountain Saturday, April 22, students from Simon Fraser University’s First Nations, Métis and Inuit Student Association hosted an inaugural powwow to celebrate the end of the school year and honour the achievements of Indigenous students past and present

The event was several years in the making, partly because it was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic. It was successfullly staged in no small part because of the efforts of sisters Kali King Stierle and Raven King Stierle.

The sisters, or “the dynamic-duo,” as they call themselves, are both SFU students

Kali, a fifth-year student and treasurer of the association, joined hands with her older sister, Raven, who is FNMISA’s In- digenous community and external affairs and special events co-ordinator, to bring the traditional Indigenous powwow ceremony to Burnaby Mountain

The King Stierles, who are of Métis, Cree and German descent from Peepeekisis Cree Nation in Treaty 4 territory, Saskatchewan, spoke to the NOW about their experience organizing the ceremony, to which people of all ages, races and communities were invited

“We wanted that opportunity to have a public event where we can build bridges between the Indigenous and non-Indigenous community, and show the amazing work that’s being done by Indigenous students,” Kali said.

For Kali, the experience organizing a traditional powwow ceremony felt like “walking in two worlds” because she is balancing reconciliation and the Indigenous ceremonial aspect of it with the commu- nity aspect and the logistics of hosting an event of this scale

“There’s a teaching where you, as an Indigenous person, sometimes have to learn the balance and the art of walking into worlds ” she said “Because you’ll be a student, you carry your cultures and teachings from your community Yet, you’re also sometimes walking in a world that is unfamiliar to you, an institution that’s not normally designed for Indigenous hearts, minds and bodies Carrying both parts of yourself ”

The sisters said while powwow ceremonies are not traditional to theWest Coast, they were able to work along with the host nations of the territories in the west to organize this event.

The powwow began with a grand entry and offered traditional dance, an Indigenous dinner and vendors for clothes, arts and crafts.

The sisters said they are proud of being able to create a safe space for the Indigenous community to celebrate their culture and have the non-Indigenous community to celebrate with them

“It’s been such a fulfilling and exciting experience,” they said. “We’ve been engaging Indigenous students all throughout like our head lady dancer, which is a very honourable position in our community, is an Indigenous student at SFU.The head man dancer is an alumni

“We’ve got students at all levels throughout this process ”

They hope the powwow will be the first of many

Notice Of Annual Public Meeting

The Board of Directors of Vancouver Airport Authority announces that the Annual Public Meeting will be held to present the Airport Authority’s 2022 Annual & Sustainability Report and financial statements

MONDAY, MAY 8, 2023

East Concourse, U.S. Departures Level 3 (near the Fairmont Airport Hotel)

Vancouver International Airport

12:30 p.m registration / 1:00 p.m meeting begins

Please join us for the meeting in person or virtually; the meeting will be live streamed at YVR.ca/APM

The 2022 Annual & Sustainability Report will be available at YVR.ca at the end of April.

Participants will have the opportunity to ask questions at the meeting. Questions may also be submitted in advance to community relations@yvr ca or via Twitter using #YVRAPM To be answered during the meeting, questions must be submitted by 5:00 p.m on Wednesday, May 3.

All members of the public are welcome.

Vancouver Airport Authority operates Vancouver International Airport (YVR) in service of the community and economy that supports it.

AVIS D’ASSEMBLÉE PUBLIQUE ANNUELLE

Le conseil d’administration de l Autorité aéroportuaire de Vancouver annonce la tenue de l’assemblée publique annuelle pour présenter le rapport annuel et de développement durable 2022 ainsi que les états financiers de l Autorité aéroportuaire.

Hall Est, niveau 3 des départs des États-Unis (près de l’hôtel Fairmont Airport)

Aéroport international de Vancouver

12 h 30 inscription / 13 h la réunion commence

Joignez-vous à nous pour cette rencontre en personne ou virtuellement ; celle-ci sera diffusée en direct sur YVR.ca/APM

Le rapport annuel et de développement durable 2022 sera disponible sur YVR.ca à la fin avril.

Les participants auront la possibilité de poser des questions lors de la rencontre. Les questions peuvent également être soumises à l’avance à community_relations@yvr.ca ou via Twitter en utilisant #YVRAPM Pour obtenir une réponse lors de la rencontre, les questions doivent être soumises avant 17 h. le mercredi 3 mai.