Powwow promotes understanding between cultures
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 04/07/2024 (702 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
Students from Chan Kagha Otina Dakota Wayawa Tipi School in Birdtail Sioux First Nation came dressed to impress last Monday for their school’s annual end-of-year powwow.
The event is a crucial element of the cultural learning program at the school, according to principal Caleigh Matni-MacDonald.
“One of the things that we’ve been focused on a lot this year is trying to bring more of the culture into the school and give our students a better sense of who they are and where they come from, so that they can be grounded in growing up and live their lives in a good way,” she said.
Autumn Muskego performs at the Chan Kagha Otina Dakota Wayawa Tipi School powwow in Birdtail Sioux First Nation on June 24. (Charlotte McConkey/The Brandon Sun)
Four schoolbuses were lined up beside the grassy area in front of the school where the powwow was to take place. Sioux Valley Elementary School sent a class to watch the demonstration, in addition to three non-Indigenous elementary schools: Birtle Elementary, Birtle Collegiate, and Minota School.
Matni-MacDonald said the schools were invited in an effort to teach kids about Indigenous culture firsthand. The first dance of the powwow was intertribal, meaning anyone was allowed to join the circle and participate. Nearly all students and teachers present did.
There have been a few troubling incidents in the area related to racism, Matni-MacDonald said. Bringing students from across cultures together for the school’s powwow was an opportunity for them to mingle and learn from each other.
“One of the ways that the schools are working together is to try to increase knowledge and exposure to different cultures, and to build connections between the two communities,” Matni-MacDonald said.
The Battling Horse drum circle from Birdtail Sioux set the tone. They played the music for all the dances performed. Vice-principal Jason Taylor, dressed in regalia, alternated between drumming and dancing.
Vice principal Jason Taylor at the Chan Kagha Otina Dakota Wayawa Tipi School powwow. (Photos by Charlotte McConkey/The Brandon Sun)
Matni-MacDonald was beaming with pride as she said, “Events like these are to show off our students. Most of our students are here in regalia they’ve made themselves, or they have family members that help them with it. They’re very good representatives of their culture, good representatives of what it means to come from Birdtail Sioux.”
» cmcconkey@brandonsun.com
Vice-principal Jason Taylor and his wife, Jolene Taylor, with their child.
Students line up behind vice-principal Taylor before the grand entry.
Students perform a jingle dance at Chan Kagha Otina Dakota Wayawa Tipi School’s end-of-year powwow.
Jingle skirts often have around 365 metal spirals on them, one representing a prayer for each day of the year.
Elementary schools from around Birdtail came to watch the powwow to learn about Indigenous culture first-hand. In this photo, a student from Chan Kagha Otina Dakota Wayawa Tipi School performs a traditional dance.
Trace Brown performing at the school’s powwow. Many of the students, like Jace, performed more than once.
A student performs a traditional dance at the June 24 Birdtail school’s powwow.
A student performs a traditional dance at the June 24 Birdtail school’s powwow.
