On Saturday, September 7, Niagara College students, staff, faculty and administrators were among those who gathered in St. Catharines for the Procession of Nations, the flagship event at the third annual Celebration of Nations, September 6 to 8.
The weekend-long event celebrate and honours Indigenous arts, culture and tradition through various community activities and workshops that highlight the creativity, diversity and resilience of Indigenous Peoples. This year’s theme was ’emphatic traditions – honouring mother earth’.
This year, NC sponsored a drum teachings workshop led by Nicole Joy Fraser on Sunday morning. Free tickets to the weekend’s event were offered to all Niagara College students.
Representatives from the College, including President Dan Patterson, associate vice president, Academic Services, Fiona Allan, Student Services director Lianne Gagnon, and staff from Indigenous Education participated. Gagnon proudly held the NC flag for the event in downtown St. Catharines. Indigenous NC student Dalton Bird waved the Two Spirit flag.
“It was a great honour to participate in the Process of Nations and I loved every moment of it,” said Dalton Bird, second year student in NC’s Business Administration – Human Resources Co-op program. “I’m so grateful to have represented my two-spirited friends and my college that I love so much.”
“Participating in the Celebration of Nations is one way the College strives to build a culturally inclusive learning environment and provide opportunities for all students, not only First Nations, Métis, and Inuit students, to engage with and honour Indigenous Nations,” said Lianne Gagnon, director, Student Services.
If you’re in downtown St. Catharines today, take in the last day of #celebrationofnations! pic.twitter.com/tRh14MiUFY
— Dispatch (@dispatchresto) September 8, 2019
