University of Lethbridge honoured southern Alberta’s indigenous community this week. The U of L held its annual Native Awareness Week. From opening ceremonies to two distinct cultures coming together, I had the chance to find out more about this unique week. Tawnya Plain Eagle has more.

Through the power of song, the First Nations community joined the University of Lethbridge for its annual Native Awareness Week.

Students, staff and community members joined together as a mini Pow-Wow celebration was held to kick off the week long celebration.

Martha Many Grey horses the director for the FMNI Centre says post-secondary institutions often celebrate Native Awareness Week based on the social justice movement.

“Our culture ways as members of the Blackfoot confederacy are still pretty solid, we still have traditional societies that go back for a long time,” she says.

Many Grey Horses says it’s important that the students and faculty at the U of L understand the historical power of prayer.

Kevin Okah student at U of L took it upon himself to learn the traditional culture of the Blackfoot people. He spent the afternoon participating in the celebrations and says their are some similarities that relate with his Nigerian background.

“The songs, the way they do the chanting, its similar to the way it is back home,” said Okah.

Okah was surprised to see Blackfoot’s use drums nearly the same way their used in Canada.

He says he wants to teach relatives the dance he learned here and maybe add it to their traditional dances.

In addition to Aboriginal singing and dancing, Native Awareness Week consisted of educational documentaries, craft making and a talent show. Tawnya Plain Eagle, eNEWS.