Indigenous students at Fredericton High School and First Nations leaders feel disgusted and discouraged after a teacher allegedly opposed a powwow held at the school earlier this week. St. Mary's First Nation Chief Allan Polchies Jr.
shared an email Clifford Cull sent to fellow staff about the May 21 event. In it, the science teacher criticizes the school for hosting the powwow during instructional time. He claims he contacted Education Minister Bill Hogan and confirmed "these type [of] spiritual meetings are not endorsed" by the department.
Cull likens the cultural celebration that includes traditional drumming, dance, arts, crafts and food, to "having a priest come into FHS and do a prayer vigil with communion and the stations of the cross." "There is an expectation for there to be a separation of state and 'church,'" the email says. "I am asking that if there is to be a powwow at FHS it be done during non instructional times such as lunchtime or after school.
" 'How dare you' Polchies reacted with, "How dare you Mr. Cull!" "Our people have been here from time immemorial. We share our beautiful culture as treaty people.
Education is the healing path forward." St. Mary's Chief Allan Polchies Jr.
and the other Wolastoqey chiefs say powwows are 'not merely spiritual or religious gatherings and to classify them as such is uninformed and offensive.' (Jeanne Armstrong/CBC) Polchies and the five other chiefs of the Wolastoqey Nation subsequently issued a statement, saying the email.
