Ampere Canada – Surrounded by celebration, curiosity and dance, Ampere was honoured to attend a local school board’s fourth annual Pow Wow and Drum Circle in Gravenhurst.
On June 4, along with nearly 600 students, Ampere attended Gravenhurst High School for Trillium Lakelands District School Board’s Pow Wow and Drum Circle, where participants were guided through various teachable moments from Anishinaabe and Haudenosaunee perspectives. According to school board officials, the purpose was to “increase understanding and engagement with Indigenous culture, traditions, protocols and peoples, strengthening community relationships and breaking down barriers or misconceptions about pow wows and drum socials.”
The gathering was organized by the Indigenous Student Success Team, alongside student leaders, voluntary self-identified Indigenous students, and other students who have expressed interest in learning more about Indigenous culture.
“Our team believes it’s time to shine a brighter light on current, positive contributions from Indigenous people and organizations, as well as lift up those who support Indigenous Communities,” says Lillian Lummiss, Itinerant Educational Assistant for TLDSB and member of the Indigenous Student Success Team.
“It was a wonderful day and having Ampere join us was an amazing way to show our students the fun and positive impact that STEM can have, and is having, in our communities.”
Ampere was represented by a team of three, including Mary McDonald, Senior Manager of Educational Partnerships and Impact.
“We were honoured to be the only community partner invited to attend the event, providing additional activities for the kids attending the pow wow. We’ve been invited to participate next year and were even asked several times to make sure we have it on our calendars,” says McDonald. “We were also honoured to be invited to the feast following the Pow Wow and I have to say, it was the most delicious food I’ve eaten, ever!”
McDonald says it was an incredible event, one that enabled Ampere to make and deepen important community connections that will continue to grow.
“It was such a beautiful experience to listen to the songs and watch the dancers, and see the students joining in the dance,” adds McDonald.
McDonald’s colleagues, Marie Abu Itham and Kyle Gordon agreed, with Abu Itham noting the event was “such a fun and gratifying experience. I’m so thankful for the invite from the hosts. I felt like I learned a lot about community building just by watching.”
Gordon echoed those sentiments, calling the experience an inspiring, educational day.
Partnering with organizations that prioritize celebrating cultural diversity as part of the learning journey, like TLDSB, is key to Ampere’s mission. Ampere is grateful for the chance to nurture relationships with TLDSB and everyone involved in making events like the Pow Wow and Drum Circle such an impactful success.
About Ampere
For over a decade, Ampere (formerly the Pinnguaq Association) has partnered with rural, remote and Indigenous communities to provide access to science, technology, engineering, art and math (STEAM) education and opportunities. Founded in Pangnirtung, Nunavut, Ampere applies a Lifecycle approach to ensure that its supporting learners at every age, and every stage of life. Ampere offers programming directly through Makerspaces in Iqaluit, Nunavut, Bathurst, New Brunswick, and in the Kawartha Lakes, Ontario, and works directly with community partners, social organizations, governmental funders and educational institutions from coast to coast to coast.
