Several of the school staff and students are Indigenous, the largest population in all Peterborough Catholic schools according to Jen Wright, St. John CES principal.
“That's one of our main priorities at St. John is to support and represent all of our students,” she said. “It's celebrating the culture and community of Indigenous families. It is so special that it's one step towards reconciliation that we can host today.”
“I thought it was important to bring a pow wow here so they can get in touch with their culture and help them more identify with who they are,” said Richelle Weekes of Hiawatha First Nation.
Members of Hiawatha First Nations, Haudenosaunee and Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation came to St. John for the pow wow to celebrate all Nations coming together. An intertribal song was sung to unite everyone together as students and teachers were invited to dance and sing along.
“I'm actually so happy and amazed that so many people have actually shown up to support this,” explained Weekes. “It's so good for our non-Indigenous to see how the Indigenous culture is so that we're aware of all the different cultures out there.”
While it’s not the first pow wow hosted at a Catholic school in Peterborough, Weekes she wants to make this a more regular event throughout the years.
“My goal is to hopefully get a pow wow maybe every year to a different school throughout the board just to keep bringing more awareness and to keep everything open and just help people be proud of who they are,” she said.
