The University of Winnipeg held its annual spring powwow Saturday.

The powwow, hosted by the Aboriginal Student Council and Student Services Centre, was followed by a graduation ceremony. This year's theme was honouring indigenous education.

"We have to bring some balance about the history of these lands, history of treaties, the history of settlement, simply because it's been a primarily colonial experience in academia in western Canada," said Grand Chief Derek Neepinak, Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs.

Earlier this week the university's senate approved a proposal for all students to take a mandatory indigenous course.