The City of Strathmore partnered with Siksika Nation to co-host the primary Lead by Instance Powwow this weekend in Strathmore – a cultural celebration honoring Kakato’s Kristian Ayoungman, who was shot and killed 4 years in the past.
Ayoungman excelled in the whole lot he set his thoughts to. He was a hockey participant, golfer and champion dancer.
Those that knew him stated he led by instance.
“That is precisely how he lived his life. He was a real chief,” his mom stated Melody Ayoungman-Looking.
“Something you place in entrance of him, he surpassed. He was simply a type of massive, outstanding children.”
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On Saturday, a whole lot of individuals gathered in Strathmore for the Lead by Instance Powwow, a celebration honoring Ayoungman.
His mom thought a pow wow could be a option to carry Strathmore residents and Siksika Nation residents collectively. The city embraced the thought.
Ayoungman-Hunt was a part of the spectacular Grand Entry that included dancers from throughout Canada and the US, in addition to members of the RCMP and elected officers in southern Alberta.
“I simply felt a lot love and a lot connection and a lot overwhelming gratitude for everybody who participated in making today attainable,” Ayoungman-Hunt stated.
“I’m full of gratitude as a result of everybody listened. Everybody pulled collectively in each means. This city of Strathmore took the time to study with us. They acquired it they usually’re doing it.”
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Strathmore’s mayor stated the pow wow was an essential step for his personal and your complete area’s reconciliation efforts.
“Strathmore was actually blessed that Siksika Nation and Melodie – particularly because the mom of a murdered man – they needed to make use of this as a catalyst to make optimistic change,” Pat Fule stated Saturday.
Fule stated Ayoungman was a mentor and a job mannequin for youthful gamers and his loss of life had a big impact on the neighborhood.
“As a former highschool coach, I at all times adopted the motto of ‘actions not phrases.’ It is good to do an acknowledgment and to talk publicly about bettering issues, however until you additionally do the laborious work of attempting to enhance issues, they’re simply phrases. This pow wow is a really highly effective public demonstration that we imply what we are saying right here in Strathmore – once we need to make issues higher for our First Nations neighbors and buddies,” Fule stated.
Ayoungman-Hunt stated it is essential to acknowledge that racism exists and to grasp the historical past of First Nations.
“We will discuss and discuss change, however really doing one thing about it – that is the larger factor. I knew our little boy’s memorial was going to be massive, but it surely turned out greater than we anticipated.”
“I do know he will probably be pleased with us with what we’re doing as a result of what occurred to him was flawed. He is aware of we do the whole lot proper.”
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Ayoungman, a former Strathmore Wheatland Kings participant was shot and killed on March 17, 2019.
Brandon Giffen and his brother Kody Giffen, have been charged with first-degree homicide in Ayoungman’s loss of life.
Kody was sentenced to 4 years in jail on March 16, 2021 after pleading responsible to manslaughter in August 2020. Brandon was convicted of manslaughter and acquitted of homicide.
The powwow continues on Sunday, March 19.
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