“It means that we are continuing that commitment to honour Indigenous ways of being, doing and knowing, and really to drive Indigenous excellence,” said Angie Bruce, vice president (Indigenous) at the U of M.

Red River College Polytechnic hosted its 25th annual powwow Friday to celebrate a record 184 registered students.

The University of Winnipeg held its own powwow at the Duckworth Centre on Sunday.

Bruce said events such as graduation powwows honour reconciliation within educational institutions.

To read the entire article, please follow the link to The Free Press. 

In partnership with the Free Press, UM offers free digital access to all students, faculty and staff.

This initiative helps support an informed and engaged campus community. Learn more.

Whether it was to celebrate their tireless work or to connect with community through tradition and ceremony, Elora Cromarty, Lauren Hallett and Dane Monkman looked forward to attending the UM Grad Pow Wow, which included a Pipe Ceremony, presentations to the graduates, entertainment and a community meal. Watch their videos:

Elora Cromarty

Elora, a member of Norway House Cree Nation and a linguistics major, shares how important the support she received was to her as a new student and how she’s using her education to revitalize Indigenous languages.

Lauren Hallett

Lauren, of Sabe Clan, is a Red River Michif Health Studies graduate with a focus on family health. She shares how her education has enhanced her life and how she hopes to use it to create more equitable health systems and spaces for gender-diverse communities.

Dane Monkman

Dane, Peguis First Nation band, shares how UM has helped shape his educational journey—from bachelor of arts to master of arts in political studies—and what it means to his community. 

More than 100 Indigenous graduates were celebrated at the 36th Annual Traditional Graduation Pow Wow on May 3 at the Investors Group Athletic Centre on UM’s Fort Garry campus.

This year, more than 470 Indigenous students graduated from faculties across both UM campuses, including Arts, Social Work, Education, Engineering, Science, the Asper School of Business, Clayton H. Riddell Faculty of Environment, Earth, and Resources and the Max Rady College of Medicine.

Meet some of the Indigenous graduates from the University of Manitoba and learn more about their education journey.

Student-focused, embraced by community: A celebration of culture and pride

“This is a student-focused celebration that’s supported by the community,” says Carla Loewen, Chair of the Graduation Pow Wow planning committee and Director of the Indigenous Student Centre. She emphasizes that the Graduation Pow Wow is much more than a graduation ceremony—it is a shared cultural experience where the community comes together to honour and uplift its students.

This year’s celebration brings new highlights and meaningful updates. The respected Migizii Award, a staple of the event in recent years, will feature custom artwork created by an Indigenous student artist from UM. These personalized pieces not only deepen the cultural meaning of the award but also showcase the creativity and vision of young Indigenous artists.

“Continue leading with purpose, give back to your community, and embrace the journey. The Graduation Pow Wow marks not only an end, but the powerful start of what comes next.”

— Carla Loewen, to graduates

Collective wisdom, respect and connection

For the first time, the 36th Graduation Pow Wow will feature co-speakers—two graduating students who will share the honour of delivering the graduation address. This new approach reflects a spirit of inclusivity and shared leadership. 

The day will also include the lighting of the Qulliq, an acknowledgement of Inuit communities and culture, offering a moment of reflection and respect.

Loewen shared that the Graduation Pow Wow is a collective effort with many voices at the planning table. The goal is to reflect the cultural diversity and values of different Indigenous Nations, ensuring each graduate feels seen, respected and celebrated.

“Special, inspiring and an honour… Watching students walk into the circle to receive their Indigenous stole fills me with pride. It’s an incredible honour to be able to celebrate with them.”

— Carla Loewen, when asked what the Graduation Pow Wow means to her

A full-day annual traditional Graduation Pow Wow, including a Pipe Ceremony, Grand Entry, Graduate Ceremony, Community Meal, Intertribal and Category Dancing and a Closing Prayer.

A shared moment: Pow Wows across the province

As in previous years, three post-secondary institutions in Manitoba—UM, RRC Polytech and the University of Winnipeg—are hosting their graduation Pow Wows on the same weekend. For dancers, families, and community members, this coordinated celebration offers a rare opportunity to experience multiple events in one weekend.

“It’s going to be a joyous weekend,” Loewen says. “We’re excited to see more participation and engagement across all three events. It’s not just exciting—it’s empowering.”

For those unable to attend in person, there are still ways to take part. Leading up to the event, Indigenous graduates can nominate faculty or staff who made a difference in their academic journey for the Migizii Award. On the day of the event, the onsite team will be sharing highlights and live updates on social media, so everyone can join in the celebration, wherever they are.

“The 36th Annual UM Grad Pow Wow is just around the corner. It’s a celebration for every Indigenous graduate—and a moment for the entire community to come together. Whether you’re a graduate, family member, supporter, or simply someone eager to learn more about Indigenous cultures, you are warmly invited to be part of this extraordinary day.”

All Indigenous graduates will receive the blue stole (right). Métis students will also receive the traditional red Métis sash (left), which symbolizes their cultural identity.

February Graduation

There is no convocation ceremony in February, however, February 2025 graduates are invited to participate in the Spring 2025 Convocation. More information will follow this spring.

36^th Annual Traditional Graduation Pow Wow

Indigenous (First Nations, Métis, Inuit) students graduating in February 2025 are invited to participate in the 36^th Annual Traditional Graduation Pow Wow on May 3, 2025.

Learn more about the Annual Traditional Graduation Pow Wow, including FAQ’s.

Questions? Email mailto:isc@umanitoba.ca.

Parchment Delivery

Parchments will be sent through regular mail (Canada Post) to the graduates’ addresses as listed in Aurora. Parchments are sent two weeks after the graduation date, which is February 5, 2024.

For instructions on how to update contact information in Aurora, please visit our page on Updating Personal Information.

Other ways to receive your Parchment

1. Parchment pick-up:
   • Students have the option to pick up their parchment or have someone else collect it on their behalf, please submit a completed Parchment Delivery Request Form to   Convocation@umanitoba.ca.
   • The deadline to submit the Parchment Delivery form is Tuesday, January 21, 2025.
   • Parchments will be available for pick-up approximately 2 weeks after your graduation date, which is February 5^th.
2. Pre-arranged request for courier or express mail:
   • Students are welcome to provide us with a pre-paid courier or express mail envelope along with detailed mailing instructions using the Parchment Delivery Request Form.
   • The University of Manitoba will hold unclaimed parchments for a maximum of 12 months after graduation, including those returned to us as undeliverable. We will destroy any unclaimed parchments after 12 months.
   • If a student does not receive their parchment, it is their responsibility to follow up with the Registrar’s Office within 12 months. Any requests for a parchment after this time will be processed as a Request for Replacement Parchment, at the cost of $81.25 (subject to change).

Eligibility to Graduate Letters

A Confirmation of Eligibility to Graduate letter can be ordered for students who have declared their intent to graduate but have not yet graduated.

This document includes the student’s full name, the degree they are expecting to receive and the date of their expected graduation.

This document is $13.00 and may take a minimum of two weeks to process. The fee is subject to change.

How to request Eligibility to Graduate Letters.

Confirmation of Degree Awarded Letters

Confirmation of Degree Awarded letters can only be ordered for graduates of the University of Manitoba. This document can be used for visa permits, post-docs, and convocation invitation letters, for February graduates. This document includes the student’s full name, the degree conferred, and the date of graduation.

This document is $13.00 and may take up to ten business days. The fee is subject to change.

Students who have declared graduation but have not yet graduated will need an Eligibility to Graduate letter.

How to request Confirmation of Degree Awarded.

Accounts and AURORA ACCESS

Even after graduation, students will always have access to their Aurora account. If locked out of Aurora, please contact the Registrar’s Office to regain access.

Most document orders need to be made through Aurora.

Email account:

As a graduate of the University of Manitoba, Microsoft Office 365 (M365) OneDrive access will be discontinued 120 days after the end of the last class you were registered in. Email accounts will transition to an email-only alumni account. All other tools such as Office and OneDrive access will be discontinued.

Students will have 120 days to access and download any files and folders they want to save. Once OneDrive access has been deactivated, the remaining data within OneDrive will be removed, and UM will not be able to recover it.

We recommend copying any important information from OneDrive. Visit our Microsoft 365 page for instructions to download OneDrive files.

Even for students who do not plan to continue using a UM email account for email, there are benefits to keeping the account active. Graduates from UM will likely need to order official transcripts for employers, professional organizations, or applications to other educational institutions. The simplest way to order a transcript is through Aurora. Aurora access is also necessary to obtain T2202 tax forms. In order to maintain access to Aurora, it is necessary to maintain access to your UM email account.

To ensure email access continues after graduation, students are required to change their password and reaccept the Computer Accounts – Usage Agreement every 12 months. If this agreement is not reaccepted every 12 months, the email account will also be deleted.

Questions regarding email accounts and OneDrive should be addressed to the IST Service Desk.

On May 16, the Access Program honoured its latest group of graduates. These 19 students from various Indigenous communities and Winnipeg earned degrees in Arts, Education, Kinesiology, Science, Health Science, Environmental Studies, Respiratory Therapy, Social Work, and Medicine.

Ashley Monture – MD

Ashley Monture always wanted to be a doctor, just like both of her parents. As a young girl, she would go with her mom to the nursing station in the northern communities where she worked.

“I would always try to follow her and help with patients,” says the Mohawk and Cree Access program grad who is now joining her parents’ profession with her own MD.

Monture started her university studies at McMaster but returned to Winnipeg and UM with her mother’s encouragement. She also joined the Access Program.

“It was really helpful,” she says. “After my father passed away, I appreciated the personal counselling. The academic advisors helped me to pick courses, guiding me in my options.”

With the Northern Remote Family Residency, Monture will start her residency in July.

“It still feels very surreal. It is very special. It took a long time, but it will be really nice to give back to the community. I always enjoyed my time when I lived in the North. It’s so peaceful. I had to leave to go to high school, but it was always my goal to go back to a Northern community.”

Her mom attended the Graduation Pow Wow with her and will also attend her convocation with pride. While Monture missed her Access Graduation dinner, she fondly remembers the one she attended to celebrate her undergraduate degree. “It is a nice way to celebrate and see everyone who supported you along the way.”

University can be intimidating and overwhelming at first, but Access helps students to navigate and adjust, she says. “They offer really good support and a great sense of community.”

Harrison Mason plans to build energy efficient houses using local resources.

Harrison Mason- Bachelor of Environmental Studies

Harrison Mason will return to Winnipeg for June convocation, to celebrate earning his Bachelor of Environmental Studies with a focus on Sustainable Building. The 39-year-old married father of four didn’t attend the Access Program dinner because the cost of travel to and from St. Theresa Point is prohibitive. But, he says, “Graduating is awesome. With my background, I didn’t think I would make it. I had a lot of doubt. There was my age, and my family. I thought many times about quitting. But people supported me. It took a while, but I did it.”

Just a few years ago, Mason was just getting by working construction in Winnipeg when he realized he needed to do something to earn more for his family and to inspire his children. His sister encouraged the Anisininew from St. Theresa Point to follow her to UM.

“I learned so many things. It was scary. I didn’t think I was smart enough. I wondered what I had got myself into. I thought I knew math and writing essays, but it was hard,” he says.

Mason started in Engineering but transferred to the Access Program to find his way. “When I needed help, they were there. They are one of the big parts of why I graduated. When I started paying attention, talking to the right people, they helped, and I realized I could do it.”

He discovered Environmental Studies and Sustainable Building. “I’m a carpenter and I want to help the environment. This is what I want to do,” he says. “There is so much we can do. I want to adapt to the local environment, build a house where the house is healthy as well. I believe it will take time.”

With his degree behind him, Mason is learning how to build log houses with a Saskatchewan training program in July and then he plans to build his own home as a prototype. “It will be a log cabin. My house will be energy efficient and use local resources.”

His construction process will also focus on waste minimization. “Why waste when I can reuse materials in what I am doing? I am renovating my mom’s home right now, using everything again. It’s going well.”

The Access Program taught Mason it is okay to go through hardship. “Just don’t give up. Work hard. They will provide tutors. You will make it. Just don’t give up. Push through. It will come.”

Learn more about the Access Program

“I feel over the moon. I’ve been a student for long enough, and it’s very exciting to be part of the graduation powwow today,” Galvin told CBC News.

The Anishinaabekwe graduate from Brokenhead Ojibway First Nation is among 478 Indigenous students graduating from U of M programs this term. The university celebrated those grads at its 35th annual graduation powwow on Saturday.

To read more about this story, please visit CBC Manitoba.

To listen to the entire interview, please visit CBC Manitoba.

Whether it’s to celebrate their tireless work or to connect with community through tradition and ceremony, both Taylor Galvin and Ryan Ketchum look forward to attending the UM Grad Pow Wow, which includes a Pipe Ceremony, presentations to the graduates, entertainment and a community feast.

Taylor Galvin

Taylor, from Brokenhead Ojibway Nation, is an award-winning Environmental Studies graduate with a focus on wildlife management, land-based educator, water protector/land guardian and buffalo dancer. She shares how her education has enhanced her life and how she’s bringing that education back to her community and sharing it with the youth she works with.

Ryan Ketchum

Ryan, from Wauzhushk Onigum Nation in Ontario, shares his story of perseverance and the support he received to receive a bachelor of science in electrical engineering with a focus in engineering physics, a field under-represented by Indigenous Peoples.

Join us to celebrate more than 100 Indigenous graduates at the 35th Annual Traditional Graduation Pow Wow on May 4 at the Investors Group Athletic Centre on UM’s Fort Garry campus. Find event details on the UM website.

This year, 478 Indigenous students will be graduating from faculties across both UM campuses, including Arts, Social Work, Education, Engineering, Science, the Asper School of Business, Clayton H. Riddell Faculty of Environment, Earth, and Resources and the Max Rady College of Medicine.

“I love seeing how excited the families are,” says Carla Loewen, chair of the event’s planning committee and director of the Indigenous Student Centre. “It’s rewarding to see the students complete their degrees after all their hard work and accomplishments. We always look forward to bringing the community together to recognize them in this way.”

Celebrate the next generation of Indigenous leaders on May 4

One of the largest indoor pow wows in the province, the 35^th Annual Traditional Graduation Pow Wow at UM will take place on Saturday, May 4 at the Investors Group Athletic Centre.

All Indigenous (First Nations, Métis and Inuit) graduates are invited to participate. UM students, staff, faculty, upcoming graduates, alumni and community members are invited to attend and show their support for this year’s Indigenous graduating class. The event is free for all to attend.

New this year is a rebrand of the stoles gifted to graduates, which will be unveiled at the event. “We’re launching a design that honours the original design elements, with a new flair,” says Loewen. Red River Métis singer/songwriter and UM alum Brandi Vezina has also been confirmed as part of the entertainment.

Get involved by volunteering at pow wow

Each year, volunteers play a crucial role in ensuring a smooth and successful event. All UM students, staff and community are invited to volunteer at the graduation pow wow. Visit the UM website to register.

A weekend of pow wow celebrations

For the first time, three post-secondary institutions in Manitoba have coordinated efforts to host their graduation pow wows on the same weekend. RRC Polytech hosts its 24^th Annual Pow Wow on Friday, May 3 and the University of Winnipeg hosts its 19^th Annual Graduation Pow Wow on Sunday, May 5.

“It’s a big pow wow weekend. We expect to see an increase in participants and visitors as a result,” says Loewen. “Three graduation pow wows in one weekend is very exciting for the community.”

Graduation Pow Wow at UM event schedule

9:45 a.m. – Pipe ceremony
12 p.m. – Grand Entry
1:30 p.m. – Honouring the graduates
3:30 p.m. – Feast
4:30 p.m. – Intertribal and category dancing
7 p.m. – Closing prayer

Learn more about what to expect at this year’s graduation pow wow by checking out the FAQ section on the UM website.

February Graduation

There is no convocation ceremony in February, however, February 2024 graduates are invited to participate in the Spring 2024 Convocation. More information will follow this spring.

35^th Annual Traditional Graduation Pow Wow

Indigenous (First Nations, Métis, Inuit) students graduating in February 2024 are invited to participate in the 35^th Annual Traditional Graduation Pow Wow on May 4, 2024.

Learn more about the Annual Traditional Graduation Pow Wow, including FAQ’s.

Questions? Email Carla.Loewen@umanitoba.ca.

Parchment Delivery

Parchments will be sent through regular mail (Canada Post) to the graduates’ addresses as listed in Aurora. Parchments are sent two weeks after the graduation date, which is February 7, 2024.

For instructions on how to update contact information in Aurora, please visit our page on Updating Personal Information.

Other ways to receive your Parchment

1. Parchment pick-up:
   • Students have the option to pick up their parchment or have someone else collect it on their behalf, please submit a completed Parchment Delivery Request Form to   Convocation@umanitoba.ca.
   • The deadline to submit the Parchment Delivery form is Wednesday, January 31, 2024.
   • Parchments will be available for pick-up after February 26, 2024.
2. Pre-arranged request for courier or express mail:
   • Students are welcome to provide us with a pre-paid courier or express mail envelope along with detailed mailing instructions using the Parchment Delivery Request Form.
   • The University of Manitoba will hold unclaimed parchments for a maximum of 12 months after graduation, including those returned to us as undeliverable. We will destroy any unclaimed parchments after 12 months.
   • If a student does not receive their parchment, it is their responsibility to follow up with the Registrar’s Office within 12 months. Any requests for a parchment after this time will be processed as a Request for Replacement Parchment, at the cost of $79.25 (subject to change).

Eligibility to Graduate Letters

A Confirmation of Eligibility to Graduate letter can be ordered for students who have declared their intent to graduate but have not yet graduated.

This document includes the student’s full name, the degree they are expecting to receive and the date of their expected graduation.

This document is $12.50 and may take a minimum of two weeks to process. The fee is subject to change.

How to request Eligibility to Graduate Letters.

Confirmation of Degree Awarded Letters

Confirmation of Degree Awarded letters can only be ordered for graduates of the University of Manitoba. This document can be used for visa permits, post-docs, and convocation invitation letters, for February graduates. This document includes the student’s full name, the degree conferred, and the date of graduation.

This document is $12.50 and may take up to ten business days. The fee is subject to change.

Students who have declared graduation but have not yet graduated will need an Eligibility to Graduate letter.

How to request Confirmation of Degree Awarded.

Accounts and AURORA ACCESS

Even after graduation, students will always have access to their Aurora account. If locked out of Aurora, please contact the Registrar’s Office to regain access.

Most document orders need to be made through Aurora.

Email account:

As a graduate of the University of Manitoba, Microsoft Office 365 (M365) OneDrive access will be discontinued 120 days after the end of the last class you were registered in. Email accounts will transition to an email-only alumni account. All other tools such as Office and OneDrive access will be discontinued.

Students will have 120 days to access and download any files and folders they want to save. Once OneDrive access has been deactivated, the remaining data within OneDrive will be removed, and UM will not be able to recover it.

We recommend copying any important information from OneDrive. Visit our Microsoft 365 page for instructions to download OneDrive files.

To ensure email access continues after graduation, students are required to change their password and reaccept the Computer Accounts – Usage Agreement every 12 months. If this agreement is not reaccepted every 12 months, the email account will also be deleted.

Questions regarding email accounts and OneDrive should be addressed to the IST Service Desk.