First Nations University of Canada's Spring Celebration Powwow in Regina this weekend

The longest running indoor powwow on Treaty 4 territory will be underway this weekend in Regina.

The two-day First Nations University of Canada (FNUniv)Spring Celebration Powwow will take placeApril 22 and 23 at the Brandt Centre.

The celebrationbrings in thousands of dancers and singers from all over Canada and the UnitedStates to competein 32 categories, including jingle dress, men's fancy danceand the chicken dance.

The annualIndigenous celebration kicks off the spring and powwow season.

Robyn Morin, one of the co-chairs on the powwow committee, said the celebration is for everyone, Indigenous and non-Indigenous.

"Anybody is welcome to attend the powwow. We also havesongs called intertribals, and that's where anybody can come down to the dance floor and dance, you don't need an outfit, you don't need to be Indigenous,"said Morin."It's a very beautiful experience for those who have never attended a powwowto come down onto the dance floor and join in with the dancers."

Morinis a fancy dancer herself and raised her son in the powwow community.

Alexis Isnana was crowned Miss FNUnivPrincess last year. Shetook on the new role with excitement and couldn't wait to represent herself in Indigenous communities all over Canada.

Isnana is from Standing Buffalo Dakota Nation and is a student at the FNUniv. She talks about what was required to run in theMiss FNUnivambassador pageant.

"You had to be a powwow dancer. You had to be a high school or university student, witha good average. You had to have general protocols of your own nation," said Isnana.

Isnanawill be on her way toAlbuquerque, New Mexico to represent Canada as she runs for Miss Indian World.

Meanwhile, a new Miss FUNivAmbassador will be crowned on Saturday and will be given her own crown.

This year's crown was beaded by Gary Gott, a beader, sewer and traditional dancer fromSapotaweyak Cree Nation.

He was taught his beading skills bya friend and fellow dancer he once stayed with, Roy Bison.

"Basically, I couldn't afford to hire anyone to do beading for me. Eventually,I discovered I had some skills." said Gott.

He said some of the things he uses in his work cannot be bought in the store. He gets quills from porcupine that have been killed on the highway, and friends give him hides from hunted moose or elk to tan, then usefor moccasins and other parts of an outfit.

Gott said he is looking forward to seeing all his old friends and enjoying the thousands of dancers on the dance floor this weekend.