Indigenous students honoured at second annual MITT Pow Wow
Posted April 12, 2024 4:53 pm.
Last Updated April 13, 2024 1:03 pm.
In a vibrant display of culture and accomplishment, the Manitoba Institute of Trades and Technology hosted its second annual PowWow, celebrating the remarkable achievements of Indigenous students who triumphed through MITT programs in 2024.
The PowWow began with a pipe ceremony, followed by the Grand Entry, which saw drumming and dancing to honour First Nations, Métis, and Inuit graduating students.
“We have a lot of students who are graduating maybe have already graduated this year, but we really want to honor them in traditional way and include their culture into their education and their educational journey,” said Rhonda Klippenstein, the manager of Indigenous Initiatives and Community Development at MITT.
”It’s a wonderful feeling, the beat of the drums and the sound of the dancers and the singers, it just has such an energy that just can’t be described.”
President and CEO Neil Cooke says this has been a journey for MITT and is just the start, as they already have a great diversity of students at the school that are interested in learning more about the Indigenous culture they can build off.
“Many of the students that are joining us for powwow are not our Canadian citizens, it is our international students, some of the newcomers that are here for language training, this is an immersive event that really brings all the cultures together,” said Cooke.
Brandon Blumhagen is one of the graduating students who was honored at the PowWow saying it was amazing to have his accomplishments highlighted in such a meaningful way and says he is confident he can take what he learned at MITT into the future.
“Start my apprenticeship and then continue on with some more schooling, maintaining my grades and hopefully getting my red seal in Industrial Mechanic Millwright,” said Blumhagen.
Cooke says MITT continues to integrate Indigenous activities and initiatives into school, which he says has led to more graduates
“We have a larger and larger graduation rate for Indigenous students that are joining us at MITT.”
