New princess crowned at FNUniv powwow
- Jeanelle Mandes | April 26, 2016
The First Nations University of Canada (FNUniv) powwow crowned their new princess to represent the institution throughout the year at various events and powwow celebrations.
Miss First Nations University of Canada Princess, Cheyenne Fineday from the Witchekan Lake First Nation, was so happy when the announcer called her name as this year’s newly crowned princess.
“I feel really good, I’m really excited,” says Fineday.
The 18-year-old young lady is a semi-fluent Cree speaker one of the qualities that the judges were looking for in the contestants.
“I think what stood out in my presentation is that I did most of it in my language,” she says. “I’m not fluent but my goal is to be fluent one day but I can understand it really good.”
The princess pageant was based on their portfolios which include their personal essays, their marks in school, recommendation letters, the application itself, their public speaking and lastly their dancing.
Not only will the newly crowned princess be invited to various powwows throughout the year to represent the university but she also receives a beaded crown and sash, a cash prize, a blanket, an invitation to special events as FNUniv Royalty and a $1000 scholarship when she enters into the university.
Fineday will be starting her first year of university in the fall to study Indigenous Studies with hopes of graduating with a Master’s degree. Living in the reserve her whole life, she sees the new upcoming transition as exciting yet scary at the same time but says she will honor the words her late father used to say.
“A quote that my late dad always told me ‘if you live your life in a good way, the Creator will lead you to good things meaning to stay away from drugs and alcohol, go to school and get your education but at the same time attend ceremonies and learn your language’,” words that Fineday holds close to her heart.
The young role model’s advice to other younger girls who dream of wearing the Miss First Nations University of Canada sash and crown is not to be shy and scared of seeking the title.
“Young girls don’t need to have a title of some sort to be a leader because everyone is a leader in their own way. But if they choose to run for princess, that’s good for them because there isn’t that many young girls that run for this title and I think it’s because they’re very shy or they’re scared. As women, we need to empower and encourage one another and maybe more girls will run in the future.”
The crowning took place on the last day of the powwow in front of thousands of spectators, over 600 dancers and 18 drum groups. Chair of the powwow committee, Richard Missens, says looking at the past averages in attendance which usually gets close to seven thousand visitors.
“We were so full we had to open up the upper levels which we never had to do in the 12 years that I’ve been chair,” he says.
This year’s powwow was their 38th year but the university also celebrated 40 years of the formation of the First Nations University of Canada institution.