September 21, 2006 Source: :
http://www.wlu.ca/news_update.php?grp_id=28&nws_id=2499&filter_type=update Drums, dance and dress all part of annual SUNDANCe pow wow St. Paul's College at the University of Waterloo will welcome aboriginal guests from across Turtle Island, also known as North America, at an annual celebration of indigenous culture organized by a group including Wilfrid Laurier University staff, faculty and students. The third annual SUNDANCe traditional pow wow will take place from noon to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 23. Organizers estimate close to 700 people attended last year and note the event appears to be growing in popularity. The pow wow's theme, Honouring our Future Leaders, carries an important message for aboriginal students. Charisse Sayer, the event's head female dancer and employee at Laurier, says that participating in the first two pow wows was her way of acknowledging that higher education is a rewarding and worthy sacrifice. "Honouring our future leaders is an important way of recognizing the sacrifice some of our students are making by leaving their territories in the pursuit of a post-secondary education," said Sayer. "Separating from family, friends and community is often difficult. An event such as the SUNDANCe pow wow provides our prospective aboriginal leaders with a sense of community, unity and opportunity."
Pow wows are celebrations and this event fulfils that tradition. People of all ages will come together to sing, dance, learn, shop and eat. There will be a wide assortment of craft vendors and many chances to enjoy such savoury Aboriginal treats as Indian tacos. Formed in 1995, The Shared Universities Native Development and Navigation Committee (SUNDANCe) provides ongoing development of programs and services for the advancement of Aboriginal people as well as the sensitizing of students, staff and faculty at the University of Waterloo, its affiliated institutions of St. Paul's College and Renison College, the University of Guelph and Wilfrid Laurier University. Tickets are $5 and donations to the SUNDANCe Aboriginal bursary are welcomed. Members of the public wanting more information can contact Jean Becker at jbecker@wlu.ca or 519-884-1970 ext. 5230 or
Nina Shane-Gill at 519-885-1460 ext. 209. Contact:
Sparrow Rose, Laurier SUNDANCe committee, 519-884-1970 ext. 4370
Michael Strickland, UW media relations, 519-888-4777
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