The Wabnode Institute at Cambrian College held a traditional Blanket Awakening ceremony using videoconference technology on Wednesday, October 3, the first time that a traditional Aboriginal ceremony was held in Canada using distance technology.

During the ceremony, students, faculty, administration, and Elders at Cambrian were connected by point-to-point videoconference with employees and Elders at the Northeast Community Health Centre, a Capital Health facility in Edmonton. Piloting the use of this technology for traditional ceremonies will allow Cambrian to provide the local Aboriginal community with the opportunity to link with remote sites to share traditional knowledge.

"Today, we are all one circle. As Child and Youth Worker students, you will learn something that will make a difference in your lives and in the lives of the youth that you will eventually work with." Joyce Helmer, Chair of the Wabnode Institute

For further information, read the media release.