Grade 4/5 students from across the Kenora Catholic District School Board participated in the 7th Annual Fall Harvest at Wauzhushk Onigum First Nation. The long-standing tradition takes place in October at Pow Wow island.
The community members of Wauzhushk Onigum First Nation invite students from the KCDSB to experience an authentic Fall Harvest. The event includes a traditional opening and welcome in the roundhouse with an Elder prayer and traditional drumming and singing. Following this, members of the community have various stations set up. Students can participate in bannock making and roasting, traditional beading, wild rice processing, fish filleting and venison processing, learn about traditional pow-wow regalia and the use of sweet grass and sage.
"As a school community, we are blessed and honoured to be invited to the Fall Harvest each year. The relationships we've established with the community are important to us," says Shelly Tom, First Nation, Métis and Inuit Education Coordinator. "The event allows our students to experience, first-hand, the hard work involved in harvesting food and preparing for winter. They are also able to see how the community works together. An important aspect of the Fall Harvest is the sharing of traditional stories handed down by our Elders. This experience is invaluable to our students."
The entire experience is based on experiential learning opportunities helping students achieve a deeper understanding of the traditions, culture and customs of our local Anishinabe peoples. Students are treated to a traditional stew and bannock for lunch and the event includes a closing ceremony in the sacred roundhouse to end the day.
Thank you Wauzhusk Onigum for the hospitality, kindness and amazing learning opportunities for our students.