On April 27, MacEwan University celebrated the achievements of Indigenous graduands at its first Indigenous Graduation Gala. 

More than 100 people – graduands and their guests – filled the SAMU Lookout to mark the accomplishments of Indigenous students across all of the university’s faculties and schools. 

This first graduation celebration of its kind at MacEwan was introduced after several years of more informal events organized by the kihêw waciston Indigenous Centre. At this year’s gala, Founder and CEO of Indigenous Box Mallory Yawnghwe (Bachelor of Commerce ’18 and Distinguished Alumni Award ’24), shared words of inspiration for the soon-to-be graduates, and her fellow Saddle Lake Cree Nation member Tia Wood was the event's special musical guest. 

While MacEwan’s official Spring Convocation ceremonies will be held in June and many Indigenous students will be there to cross the stage and receive their parchments, this celebration offers another important way to celebrate, according to Terri Cardinal, associate vice-president, Indigenous Initiatives and Engagement.

“Many Indigenous students make their way back to their home communities at the end of term and aren’t able to return in June,” she says. “We are so incredibly proud of our Indigenous students’ hard work and dedication, and want to make sure to come together as a community to celebrate them.”

Welcoming even more Indigenous students to ensure the university’s student body reflects its community is embedded in Teaching Greatness, MacEwan’s strategic vision, says Dr. Annette Trimbee, MacEwan’s president and vice-chancellor. 

“It’s truly a highlight to be able to celebrate with these graduands and their families, whose journeys have included MacEwan University,” says Dr. Trimbee. “Education is transformative, and has tremendous power to change lives for the better. Celebrating these graduands also inspires other potential Indigenous students to follow in their footsteps.”