Celebrating the Annual SD73 Powwow

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The annual District Powwow began with the Grand Procession led by the Arena Director, Cecil Sheena and District Principal, Mike Bowden carrying the Eagle Staff gifted to the School District.  Dignitaries and dancers in regalia followed.

Students in Grade 5 and Grade 5 split classes from 35 elementary schools entered and were seated with their school banners in the Tk'emlups arbor. They watched and learned from the Powwow Master of Ceremony, Gord Cuthbert, who stopped to teach them about the different aspects of the Powwow. He explained that the Grand Procession is a way of entering to begin the Powwow. There are times when all students and dignitaries would join in the Grand Procession; however, in this case, with 2500 people, he elected to have only the dignitaries lead the procession into the Tk'emlups arbor.

Knowledge Keeper, Jackie Jules, shared a prayer to begin. Then the drummers sang and drummed the Welcome Song to welcome us as guests on the Secwepemc territory. The flag song was sung and drummers and dancers engaged acknowledging the Secwepemc flag, BC flag and Canadian flag, Metis Flag and the Nunavut Flag.

Dignitaries shared opening remarks to start the day.

District Principal Mike Bowden started, “We are fortunate to be here to celebrate and to learn together. I am sure that those who attended Kamloops Indian Residential School would not have thought that this would be possible.”

Chief and Council representative, Councillor Dave Manuel said, “Hello Everyone, Good Morning and Welcome to our unceded ancestral lands of Tk'emlups te Secwepemc on behalf of Tk'emlups Chief and Council. I really want to encourage all you students to have an amazing time at this year’s School District Powwow and hopefully you all had a wonderful school year. Great to see so many youths willing to learn more about the history of Powwow. I would like to thank all dignitaries who showed up to support this Powwow and everyone who did all the hard work with organizing this amazing event.”

Diane Jules, Director of the Aboriginal Education Council shared, "There was a time not too long ago where we were not allowed to celebrate such a gathering as a Powwow, but now we are able to share the positive experience with our students of SD73."

Trustee O’Fee shared, “I am fortunate to have spent time here working for the Tk'emlups te Secwepemc Chief and Council, so I feel a reverence for this place, the ground that we are on today.  As we gather together, we learn a lot and we need to cherish that learning, which is a gift from First Peoples on this territory.”

Superintendent Nixon stated, “Let’s take time to remember the “Le Estcwicwéý (the missing), the residential school children who attended the Kamloops Indian Residential School and who did not make it home. While this tragic loss is palpable in the stories shared by elders, knowledge keepers, and families who experienced it, we are also reminded by those who share them to work together towards more hopeful futures for Indigenous children and youth.”

Superintendent Pelley shared, “Let us commit to supporting and nurturing the leadership potential of our youth by being engaged in cultural education such as this amazing event. I urge you all to learn and recognize the importance of future youth leadership in Indigenous reconciliation. Let us invest in growth, listen to their voices, and amplify their impact. Together, let us forge a future where reconciliation is not just a goal but an inherent part of who we are.”

The Powwow Master of Ceremony continued after the remarks and defined Powwow as “gathering” and shared that everyone’s job was to gather and connect together in relationship. He asked us to turn to a person near us and share introductions. In this way, he emphasized that we met someone new and this is the purpose of the Powwow.

As the day continued, the Powwow Master of Ceremony shared games such as, “Everyone with two different colors of socks, come running into the middle of the arena for a prize. He would then check to see if those who ran there really had two different colors of socks on. Then he distributed some gifts.

As the morning continued with games and dance, homemade bannock was also distributed to guests.