Photo courtesy of First Nations University of Canada Facebook page.
It started as the Saskatchewan Indian Federated College in 1976, but then evolved into the First Nations University of Canada in 2003.
Over the next four days, there will be a 40th anniversary celebration, reflecting on where the institution has come from and where it is going.
Part of its mandate was to undo the damage that was done by the Indian residential schools. The college was a place to celebrate culture and learn about tradition. President Mark Dockstator says along the way there has been a lot of community support and that is what the celebration is all about.
“They have supported us for all these years and are the reason for our success, so let’s make it a community celebration,” he said.
It is also about honouring those who were stripped of their identity and taken away from families and forced into residential schools.
Dockstator says the 40th anniversary of the institution will be used to announce a 15 million dollar capital fundraising campaign to help make the institution a national gathering place for Aboriginal culture.
Part of the plan includes a residential school museum and a wall with the names of those who attended the schools.
“It’s a walled in segment to represent the idea that residential schools were there to break that sacred hoop — the language, the culture of the First Nations people,” he said. “We are here as a continuation of that circle to rebuild that sacred hoop.”
Indigenous Affairs Minister Carolyn Bennett and AFN Chief Perry Bellegarde are among those who will offer congratulations to the institution on Monday.
Over the weekend, there will be several children and family events. Celebrations begin tonight with a feast and round dance.