Kenora Catholic Students Gather for a Traditional Fall Feast

Kenora Catholic Students Gather for a Traditional Fall Feast
Posted on 10/05/2018
Traditional Fall Feast

Students dancing around drummers

Students serve soup

Mother and son

Two students enjoying soup

Children from across the board gathered at Pope John Paul II School today to enjoy a meal for the Fall Feast in celebration of Wiigonge (Thanksgiving).

The celebration opened with a traditional prayer from Kenora Catholic's Elder in Residence, Isobel White. In her prayer, she talked about how each school will be gifted with a blanket to bring comfort to all children. Isobel explained that if a child is not feeling good, the blanket will be there to comfort the children, and at the end of the celebration all five schools at Kenora Catholic will receive a blanket.

Students, family and guests were served soup, bannock and fresh fruit from a team of students and staff.

Kristan Reeves, Grade 5 student from Pope John Paul II School, helped serve the food. "I think the Fall Feast is important to get everyone together to celebrate the culture and fall. The students like getting together and everyone enjoys the dancing and drumming and singing," she said.

The celebration combined the traditions of both the Catholic faith and Anishinaabe culture. Glen Seymour from Wauzhushk Onigum First Nation emceed the event. The Whitefish Bay Singers provided the drumming and the Culinary Arts students from St. Thomas Aquinas High School prepared the food.

Children had an opportunity to join together and dance around the circle before heading back to their schools.

Kenora Catholic's custom of hosting a Spring and Fall Feast is a long-standing tradition that started over 12 years ago and celebrates the changing seasons.

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