Indigenous Students' Union
Join members of the Indigenous Students’ Union as they incorporate powwow dancing, live music, and visual art into a full night of cultural performance and practice. The powwow dancing and music takes place at Nobel Plaza, while the visual art is hosted at the Gordon Oakes Red Bear Student Centre.
About the organization & Artists
The Indigenous Students’ Union (ISU) is an Indigenous student leadership group at the University of Saskatchewan who advocate for Indigenous students and establish community on campus.
Taihre Lafond is the Vice President of Student Affairs on the ISU. He is from Saddle Lake First Nation and will enter his second year of Arts & Science in the fall. Taihre is a self-taught multi-instrumentalist and producer who has been playing music for 15 years.
Tia is the Director of Public Relations for the ISU. She is a Plains Cree female artist residing in Treaty 6 Territory, going into her third year of her Bachelor of Arts degree. She specializes in highly detailed traditional art, portraying Indigenous issues and culture while incorporating her experience growing up as an Urban Indigenous woman.
John is the Director of Research for the ISU. Raised on the Poundmaker Cree Nation, he has danced powwow since he was a little boy. He has spent most of his life dancing men’s grass, although he dances the men’s chicken and traditional categories as well. John dances with sakihtowin (love) and pays his respects to his late grandparents who raised him and encouraged him to dance.
Trayce is the Secretary-Treasurer for the ISU. He is from the Ahtahkakoop First Nation and started dancing 9 years ago. He has been a men’s traditional dancer since he started. One of Trayce’s main reasons for dancing is to honour his late moshum (grandfather). He started dancing after he passed on, using the same buffalo head and bustle that his moshum used to dance with.
Tianna is the Vice President of Student Council for the ISU. She grew up within her communities of Zagime Anishnabek and Ochapowace Cree Nation. Tianna has danced women’s fancy ever since she could walk. She is grateful to her grandparents for taking her and her older sister to powwows all across Turtle Island and ensuring they carry on this beautiful way of life. Tianna dances for all those who can’t and to bring healing to all those in need.
LOcation: Nobel Plaza & Gordon Oakes Red Bear Student Centre
Find all Nuit Blanche Eve projects at the University of Saskatchewan campus. See the full map for more details.
