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Weledeh Catholic School celebrates Indigenous culture with a feast

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The Yellowknives Dene Drummers kicked off the community feast at Weledeh Catholic School. Kaicheng Xin/NNSL photo

Weledeh Catholic School hosted the community on May 2 in the form of a feast. The annual event is meant to celebrate the culture of the North and happened for the 12th time.

Around 400 people came out to partake in the fun, which began with the Yellowknives Dene Drummers leading a feeding of the fire at the schoolSA国际影视传媒檚 outdoor basketball courts, followed by a prayer from Elder Verna Crapeau. Participants were given sugar and tobacco to help keep the fire going.

After that, it was inside to the schoolSA国际影视传媒檚 gym to enjoy the feast. Beef stew and bannock was the main meal, but there were vegetarian options available.

Teacher and SA国际影视传媒榟ead stew chefSA国际影视传媒 Sarah Morton said the event took four days to prepare with prepared 26 roasters of stew while St. PatSA国际影视传媒檚 teacher John White and parents Lorne Hobbs and Caroline Sanderson made the bannock.

There was even a fiddle performance during the feast for people to enjoy.

Weledeh principal Alicia Larade said this is the schoolSA国际影视传媒檚 favourite event of the year and it was a chance to bring the community out to celebrate Indigenous culture.

SA国际影视传媒淥ur target group is everybody SA国际影视传媒 we wanted everyone to be able to come in and experience it,SA国际影视传媒 she said. SA国际影视传媒淲e wouldnSA国际影视传媒檛 turn anyone away.SA国际影视传媒

Jacqueline Stanbridge brought her two children, Dylan and Ella, to the feast. TheySA国际影视传媒檙e both students at Weledeh.

SA国际影视传媒淭he staff here went above and beyond to create a sense of family in the community, and itSA国际影视传媒檚 the mean reason I chose this school for my children,SA国际影视传媒 said Stanbridge.

The school planned to donate any leftovers to charitable organizations.

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Teacher Carrie-Lynn Allan spoons out some stew to attendees. Kaicheng Xin/NNSL photo
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The Weledeh Fiddlers perform songs under the direction of Andrea Bettger during the feast. Kaicheng Xin/NNSL photo
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Jacqueline Stanbridge and her children Dylan Stanbridge, left, and Ella Stanbridge were enjoying the feast at Weledeh Catholic School on May 2. Kaicheng Xin/NNSL photo
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Everything wrapped up with a drum dance as participants danced in a circle to the beats of the drums. Kaicheng Xin/NNSL photo
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The cooks were in the kitchen preparing the stew for the community feast. From left, Maggie Lee, Mary Grace Langer, Sarah Morton, Betsy Lucko and Alicia Larade. Kaicheng Xin/NNSL photo
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Elder Verna Crapeau feeds the fire by putting tobacco and sugar to the fire pit. The fire feeding was introduced to the community feast this year for the first time. Kaicheng Xin/NNSL photo




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