Powwow partnership brings together neighbouring communities to honour slain Nation member

Green banners hung on the walls of a recreation centre in Strathmore, Alta. with the last name Ayoungman and the number 14.

A life-size cutout of the former Strathmore Wheatland Kings hockey player was set up next to the main stage. 

It was a weekend filled with emotion for Melodie Ayoungman-Hunt as a powwow was held to honour her late son, Kristian Ayoungman.

"My husband said 'why don't we host a powwow in the town of Strathmore?'" Ayoungman-Hunt recalled.

Her grandparents told her when you lose a loved one, you do things in fours. 

Every year since 2019, the year Ayoungman died, his family has held a memorial. This year's was the last — and it was going to be big.

Ayoungman was a champion powwow dancer. 

His mother said when she and her husband pitched the idea of partnering with the town of Strathmore to host a powwow and give it a theme of Lead By Example, in the spirit of reconciliation, the town council approved it unanimously. 

Strathmore Mayor Pat Fule admits the two communities have a complex relationship, and he doesn't ignore the issue of racism.

"Like in any other town in Alberta or Canada, there are little pockets of problems that residents may not be on board with what we're doing, but the vast majority of Strathmore residents are good and kind," he said.

Fule said he wants Siksika Nation members to feel safe and welcomed. 

In 2020, Siksika Nation, the Town of Strathmore and the RCMP signed a letter of understanding. 

The purpose of the letter was to foster healthy conversation, cultural awareness, and address concerns of racism.

Ayoungman was 24 when he was shot and killed on a rural road near Strathmore on March 17, 2019 after two groups of friends argued in the parking lot of a pub in that town over missing cigarettes from a pack that Kody Giffen bought from the late Ayoungman.