October 16th - This past Friday the Kenora Catholic District School Board celebrated the changing of seasons with a traditional fall fest. The event opened with drumming and singing, an honor song for the children, a smudge and offering and prayers led by Elder Howard Copenance, Sr. from Whitefish Bay First Nation. The drum was brought from St. Thomas Aquinas High School with drummers from the school as well. Glen Seymour from Wauzhushk Onigum First Nation MC'd the event.
"We don't schedule the fall feast", says Shelly Tom, Aboriginal Resource Teacher. "We wait for direction from our Elders and they tell us when we need to host it. Traditionally a fall feast needs to happen when the leaves are in the process of falling off the trees, but there are still leaves on the tree. Same with the spring feast, the leave buds are just opening up and that is when the Elders will ask us to host the spring feast. It's all about being mindful of our seasons and recognizing the changes in nature that are around us every day."
The tradition of hosting the Fall Feast is a long event that started over 10 years ago and continues today.
Over 450 students attended the Fall Feast from the Kenora Catholic schools. Students from St. Thomas Aquinas High School served the meal that consisted of a bowl of stew, bannock and fresh fruit. The Fall Fast provided an opportunity for students from various schools to come together and share a meal and socialize as well.
Thank you to the many hands the helped to prepare the food and create this tradition for the students and to our Elder, Drummers and MC.