Students from St. Thomas Aquinas High School, École Ste-Marguerite Bourgeoys, Pope John Paul II school and St. Louis school headed to Pow Wow Island at Wauzhushk Onigum First Nation on October 6th to take part in a highly anticipated tradition - the Fall Harvest. Busloads of children (over 250) unloaded in the morning and spent the entire day at Pow Wow Island. Every year for the past six years the community members of Wauzhushk Onigum First Nation invite students from Kenora area schools to the community to experience a traditional Fall Harvest. This year marks the 6th annual Fall Harvest.
Opening ceremonies started in the round house with "The Welcoming" Elder Prayer and Drum Opening led by Terry Skead. The students were able to make a tobacco offering and learn about the important ways of being respectful within the sacred round house.
The community members had prepared various stations that the students could visit such as teepee set up, drumming, bannock making and roasting as well as wild rice processing and fish filleting demonstrations. Students also got to learn about the Anishinabe culture with storytelling teachings, Elder Centre activities such as beading, Pow-wow Regalia explanations and traditional use of sage and sweet grass. The community provided a traditional fall stew for lunch.
"The learning that happens at the Fall Harvest is so important for all of our students because it allows the Elders and community members to pass down the traditions and importance of the harvesting activities", says Shelly Tom Aboriginal Resource Teacher. "The entire experience is an amazing experiential learning opportunity for children to learn how things were done in the past and are still done today. They get to learn by doing the activities themselves. The important learning happens with our Elders in the storytelling because these stories have been passed down for generations. The students are able to see the hard work involved, see how the community works together, learn the traditions and appreciate the importance of respecting our natural resources, access to food and our environment."
The closing ceremonies were completed with the drum closing song and a thank you and gift giving presentation by the community. All participants were given a souvenir t-shirt with the community logo - Wauzhushk Onigum Fall Harvest.
A very special thank you goes to the Elders and community members of Wauzhusk Onigum First Nation for the hospitality and for providing such an amazing opportunity to the students and staff of the Kenora Catholic District School Board. This is a very meaningful and authentic experience and so much care has been put in by the Elders and the community members. The Kenora Catholic District School Board is honored to be invited each year.