Huron Heights Powwow

October 11th, 2017

On Friday, Oct. 6, WRDSB hosted our first ever powwow at Huron Heights Secondary School. More than 500 students from WRDSB and the Waterloo Catholic District School Board joined Indigenous dancers, drummers, singers, artists and community members at the event.

Maegan Boyter-Mandawoub at WRDSB’s first ever powwow

The project came about thanks to the work of Grade 11 student Maegan Boyter-Mandawoub.

“I’m so happy that I have this chance to share my culture with others,” said Maegan. For her, this event helps to de-mystify Indigenous culture in our schools, normalizing conversations around her history.

Over the course of the day, students, teachers and WRDSB officials joined in a number of dances and had the opportunity to learn more about Indigenous issues in Canada.

“We’re hopeful that this is the first of an annual tradition of WRDSB powwows,” said Chris Charman, a Head of Geography at Huron Heights and the WRDSB lead for the event.

Ed Doadt, principal at Huron Heights, was happy to host the event. Standing in the school field he points to a sculpture at the corner of Huron and Strasburg roads. “Hosting the powwow is very significant as we’re standing, literally, on historical lands of the Neutral Peoples.” The sculpture is a representation of the longhouses that were found in the area.

“Today is like a dream come true,” says Maegan. “It’s so amazing to see a powwow at a public school, it’s a great step towards reconciliation.”