Elders and Traditional Peoples Gathering marks 20 years at the University of Manitoba – UM Today
March 27, 2026
Ancestral voices continue to guide students, communities and the university
At dawn, two Sacred Fires glow inside the tipis on Buller Lawn, tended by volunteers from Oskâpêwis Training Program (external link) . Nearby, the sound of a drum rises from the multi-purpose room in UMSU University Centre as Elders, students, faculty and community members gather in a circle, taking their seats one by one.
Moments like this (external link) have become a familiar part of the Annual Elders and Traditional Peoples Gathering (ETPG). In 2026, the event marked its 20th year, guided by the theme “Ancestral Voices Guide Us.”
