Your kids got WHAT at a powwow?

Morning from the Gateway — here's what's moving in The Pas. This one, folks, it’s got me thinking. You hear about a school powwow, and your mind goes to drumming, dancing, sharing culture – all good things, you know? But then you get the news out of southwestern Manitoba that parents are up in arms because their kids, students attending this celebration, somehow ended up with condoms and materials that were, well, sexually explicit. My first thought was, *man, what went wrong there?* A powwow is a sacred space, a place for community and learning, especially for our young ones.

This Isn't What Community Means

It's just… it's not right. When we talk about cultural events, especially those involving schools, the expectation is respect, safety, and age-appropriate content. The idea that something like this could happen at an event meant to celebrate Indigenous culture and bring people together, it just really misses the mark on what these gatherings are meant to be. It makes you wonder about the planning, about the communication between the school, the organizers, and the parents. It feels like a fundamental breakdown, and it undermines the trust that's so important in our communities here in The Pas, especially between Opaskwayak Cree Nation and our neighbours.

* **Trust Erosion:** Incidents like this can make parents hesitant to send their children to important cultural events, even those with the best intentions.

* **Misrepresentation:** It can unfairly overshadow the true spirit and purpose of powwows and Indigenous cultural education.

* **A Call for Clarity:** This is a clear signal that organizers and school divisions need iron-clad protocols for all materials distributed at events, especially those for youth.

Here in The Pas, whether it’s a gathering down by the Saskatchewan River or a community event at the UCN campus, we hold these spaces with a lot of respect. We understand the importance of passing on our traditions in a good way. For parents in The Pas, hearing about something like this makes you think hard about what kind of oversight is in place at events for our kids, no matter where they are. We need to do better for our youth.

Morning from the Gateway — here's what's moving in The Pas.

The crew on the morning show dives into these tough conversations every day – tune in live at mornings.live.