PARRY SOUND (June 26, 2023)— The Parry Sound High School (PSHS) pow wow is a significant and deeply meaningful event for the school’s Indigenous students and the broader school and local community.

The annual pow wow has a decades-long history in the Parry Sound community, having first originated as a social organized by Wasauksing First Nation and the Anishinaabek Club.

PSHS Indigenous Studies and Anishinaabemowin teacher Johna Hupfield explained the creation of the pow wow.

“Many years ago, knowledge carrier Luci Rice worked on Wasauksing and ensured Indigenous youth had a safe space every Thursday at PSHS to drum, share cultural ideas and overcome racial challenges.”

The creation of the school drum and the importance of the school pow wows and socials was documented in a book created by five PSHS students called, Building Our Bridge: Our Journey of Reconciliation, and received national recognition.

The event has long been organized by members of the PSHS student group Oshki Shkode. Having been on hiatus during the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s event was meaningful for the school, and particularly for outgoing Indigenous Student Trustee Allen Lewis Trodd.

“We haven’t had the pow wow since I started high school in Grade 9. We needed to have it again and bring the youth together. It’s a big part of our culture and our high school history,” Trodd said. “For me, this shows resilience. It makes me happy and proud to see what the youth can do when they come together. It’s amazing to see the students come together to drum, to sing, and to dance. It’s also an opportunity to show their culture, who they are to Parry Sound.”

The event also plays an important role in student learning with course connections being made throughout the planning and execution of the event.

“It is a teaching pow wow where youth are learning about First Nation culture, values, and beliefs,” Hupfield said.

Students learn about cultural identity, worldview, life skills, community connections and collaborations, respect for rights of Indigenous people, and land reclamation.

“Typically, a group of students step forward to take on the roles planning coordinators for and other students and classes complete work as part of class projects and learning,” Hupfield said. “It’s super meaningful. Pow wow gathers us, we share skills in cooking, share First Nation culture and history.”

Students Reese Pamajewong, Kaiden Tabobondung, Karly Stevens, Korbin King, and Tristan Lajambe facilitated and coordinated the budget, community invitations, communication with local media, organized teachers and students, and much more to make the pow wow a reality.

“We are a unique school with five First Nations attending, but also with Indigenous, Métis, and a small Inuit community who attend as well,” Hupfield said. “Reclamation of culture and identity is happening in this generation. It is part of the reason the youth have called themselves Oshki Shkode, the New Fire.”

“We’ve been planning since last year. It takes a long time. We have to arrange the agenda, organize drummers and emcees, the invitation list, and secure funding from the board,” Trodd said.

Additional funding for the event was provided by the Niigaan Gdizhaami Fund supported by Wasauksing First Nation and Anishinabek Education System.

Toronto-based Young Tribe drum group also came to support songs and pow wow protocols.

“I’m a drummer so seeing all the drum groups come together is a highlight. We have groups from Moose Deer First Nation, the high school, and Wasauksing First Nation,” Trodd said. “It’s different, being able to wear our regalia in front of everyone. It used to be shunned but now it’s our pride, we are here to show off. It takes a lot of bravery and courage… I’m happy to see Elders and babies here, I’m happy that the high school is able to bring this kind of event not just to the school but the whole community.”

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For more information contact:
Brett Hanson
Communications Coordinator
Near North District School Board
(705) 472-8170, ext. 5083
Brett.Hanson@nearnorthschools.ca