UMISA plans return of Miskofest on campus

The University of Manitoba Indigenous Students Association (UMISA) held its first planning committee meeting for the sixth annual Miskofest event on January 20.

The committee will meet several times in the months leading up to the event, which will take place on March 31 and will be followed by a party at Migizii Agamik.

Miskofest started in 2018 and is a celebration of indigenous cultures on campus. Past events have included powwow dancers, drummers, Métis jigging, and Inuit throat singing, among other fun activities showcasing the variety of indigenous cultures in Treaty 1 territory on the U of M campus.

The Miskofest planning committee meeting was hosted by UMISA Co-President and Arts Student Body Council Assistant Women’s Representative, Alicia Rae Kubrakovich.

Kubrakovich explained that the event is an important opportunity to represent indigenous students and communities on campus.

“You often see that there is not a lot of representation when it comes to these spaces,” he said, adding that the event is about “creating that safe space for indigenous students to see themselves within this institution, but also to show this institution that we are still here and we are not leaving”.

Miskofest’s vision is to create a sense of belonging for indigenous students who experience discrimination and culture shock or isolation due to relocation. The event will showcase indigenous gifts and talents in a welcoming environment.

The sixth edition…