VIDEO: UofR Indigenous Students Host 3rd Annual Round Dance (Video, Pics, Full Story)

Regina, SK – It was hard to mistake the sounds of drumming and singing in the University of Regina halls during the annual round dance last Friday.

For the last three years, the Indigenous Students’ Association has hosted a round dance at the university for students, staff, faculty, and the public to participate in.

The round dance’s theme throughout the years has been “Uniting Youth with Elders,” which ISA President Jodie Woodward said allowed Elders from the community to help provide support to the students in their studies.

“It’s right before final exams and we need strength and we need guidance to help us through that difficult time, and it’s a stress reliever to come out and dance for the night,” said Woodward.

Prior to the round dance, male and female pipe ceremonies were held, followed by a traditional feast inside the Research and Innovation Centre building on campus, which also houses the U of R Aboriginal Student Centre.

“We conduct the pipe ceremonies to pray to our ancestors and pray to the Creator to have pity on us and guide us through our journey,” said Woodward.

“The feast acknowledges the spirits that help bring up our prayers to the Creator and we ask them to come eat with us.”

Stickman Teddy Bison remarked at the number of people in attendance and was pleasantly surprised at the positive turnout for the round dance, which was estimated to be over 500 people.

“To be honest I thought it was going to be small because there are other round dances going on in different parts of Saskatchewan and Alberta…I was really surprised at the turnout. A lot of singers came, a lot of dancers came, and a lot of the public came,” said Bison.

Bison added that holding the round dance in a university attracts a number of non-Aboriginal students who can observe and learn more about Aboriginal people’s customs and traditions, fittingly, in an educational institution.

“Not everybody can see what a round dance is, but a lot of the students here who were studying late, just happened to walk through it and witnessed it,” said Bison.

– Story and Photos and Video by Jarrett Crowe for RezXMag.com

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