The intertribal dance invited all attendees to participate, forming a large circle around the EDPS Algonquin Singers as they performed.

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Eganville – Local students and teaching staff enjoyed a vibrant afternoon of Indigenous culture last Wednesday at the Eganville and District Public School (EDPS) Mini Pow Wow.

Featuring a performance from upwards of 30 dancers in full regalia and members of the Algonquins of Pikwakanagan First Nation’s youth drumming group Papase, the occasion was well attended and drew a large crowd to the school’s new land-based learning classroom.

Visitors had the opportunity to enjoy the new Good Life Cultural Space in the schoolyard, a previously empty area now featuring a large gazebo and the Mino Bimaadiziwin Pebble Mosaic – a joint project with Sylvia Tanesco of the Ottawa Valley Community Arts Open Studio.

Hosted in honour of National Indigenous Peoples Day on June 21st, EDPS invited alumni from Opeongo High School as well as students at St. James Catholic School to celebrate the end of the school year in style. The afternoon began with a few words from Principal Shelley Gagne, who touched on the importance of education through experience.

“Today, we gather to celebrate our school year, honour culture, recognize Indigenous brilliance in our school and wider communities, and to continue to do the work of truth and reconciliation,” she said.

Vice Principal Kaley MacMillan welcomed the students, staff, and guests including members from the Pikwakanagan Education Department and representatives from the Renfrew County District School Board, such as Education Director Kristen Niemi, Superintendent Cary Kronwald, board members and the Indigenous Education Department.

“EDPS is a special place. Here we learn each and every day that identity and culture are what make our school community and our world diverse, a beautiful place to learn and grow,” she said. “As we welcome all of you today, let us not forget our collective commitment to fulfilling the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action.”

Ms. MacMillan told the adults in the crowd that as educators and caregivers, it’s their job to amplify Indigenous voices and to fulfill Call to Action 63 in the school community.

“And that is continuing to develop and teach a meaningful curriculum on the history of residential schools in Canada and to build student capacity for intercultural understanding, empathy and mutual respect,” she explained.

She then turned to the kids and told them to always be themselves and celebrate who they are.

“It is your role and responsibility to show kindness to your peers, to embrace the differences we all have because it is our differences that make us all beautiful and unique people,” she said. “You are our future, and when we work together, our world becomes a more kind, more loving and better place to live.”

Ms. MacMillan addressed the entire audience and said that they’re all responsible for abiding by the Seven Grandfather Teachings: respect, honesty, humility, love, wisdom, courage and truth. She described them as values embraced across all cultures to make us better people.

She expressed her gratitude to the special guests who contributed to funding the school’s new land-based learning classroom, adding, “We are looking forward to having this space used for many years to teach young people language and culture.”

Algonquin language teacher Michelle Whiteduck shared some background on the celebration before leading the group through an opening prayer.

“The ones that are in regalia, some of these songs are just for them,” she explained. “And then when they have an intertribal song, that means everybody can get up and dance. So I hope I see a lot of us up joining into our dancing.”

Ms. Whiteduck elaborated on the prayer she would go on to recite, adding, “We all know, my Native language students, that we have a prayer that goes throughout our school.

“We’re saying thank you for the sun shining upon us yet another day. We’re saying thank you for our life. We’re saying thank you for our parents and were asking for that guidance and help from the creator to walk our life in a good path,” she continued. “We’re also saying thank you for everything around us that’s beautiful.”

The Mini Pow Wow kicked off with a song from the EDPS Algonquin Singers, who are well-known among the school community for starting every week off on a high note with their Monday morning performances over the announcements.

Behind the Scenes

Ms. MacMillan told the Leader that EDPS has hosted its Mini Pow Wow twice every year for the past three years. A collaborative project between her and Algonquin Education Liaison Adam Bernard, the pair were thrilled with this year’s turnout and said it was their best to date.

She explained they do so to embrace the values of the Seven Grandfather Teachings, which she said, they have come to refer to as “the EDPS way.” She added the event was well received, as students recognize the need to keep working to respect the Calls to Action.

“So, that’s how we try and live. Those seven teachings are very important to how we learn and grow at school and in our wider communities,” she said. “The kids are very immersed in culture and they learn from their fellow students, peers and educators.”

Mr. Bernard said the students are so knowledgeable that they could almost run it themselves.

“They have the knowledge and understanding of how a pow wow is run. It’s so good for our younger students to teach our adults the way things should go and operate,” he remarked. “It’s all the students, so we’re super proud of them. Super lucky to have them in this school.”

Ms. MacMillan added they tried to get the adults to take a step back and realize the event was not meant for them specifically, but rather for the learners from the next generation.