It’s 11:32 AM and the bell starts ringing. My Math teacher wraps up her lesson on Arithmetic and Geometric Sequences. The closing of our textbooks creates a firm sound echoing around the classroom. We all group and head to the gymnasium. It is Talent Show Day.
Quantities of chatter fill the atmosphere as each and every conversation overlaps from one to another. Shades of black decorate the gym with colourful, flickering lights blinding my sensitive eyes. I sit patiently as my feet tap to the beat of the music.
Each performer receives a special opening and crowds cheer and chant their names. Singing, magic tricks, and silly meme scenes carry off the gym leaving no silence.
But this one performance has claimed its spot in my memories as it marks as one of my highlights in my highschool experience. Pow Wow dancing has amazed not only me, but the rest of the people in the gymnasium. The way the stick strikes the drums creating consistent beats. How the dancers let their souls soar and connect with their ancestors. Everyone is at the edge of their seats. Each color blends in the room and the feathers move carelessly from the attire. The fabrics move and create swishing sounds adding flavour to the beat of the music.
We all cheer, whistle, and stand after being showered of their talent and culture. We all head to the cafeteria where we are greeted with their known Bannock with jam.
This memory reminds me of how much the First Nations contributed to our world today. The many sacrifices they have made and their beliefs and teachings in which we use, have formed our world. What it means to be Canadian is knowing we are all equal in not just black and white, but in all colors. We take pride in being rich in culture and seeing the treasures in what the various cultures bring. All us Canadians form a nation of color with each flaunting its traditions, customs, and beliefs leaving no shade left behind.
Hi Lovelee! Thank you for your story, I really enjoyed reading it.
I think you did a really good job with using descriptive, rich text to boldly enhance the meanings of your words. You captivated the way the room sounded, looked and felt like.
As I read your story, I really enjoyed the one sentence you used: “How the dancers let their souls soar and connect with their ancestors.” This really beautifully captures the meaning and the culture behind the dancing. Your story actually brought back a faint memory of mine from Elementary school where the school brought in Pow Wow dancers, just like your school did. However, my school did not educate us about the meanings or anything about the dancing. It is only years later that I recognize the profound ancestor connection that can be found when dancing. So this left me wondering if your school covered these topics with you beforehand, or if this something you came to better understand as you grew older?
One sentence I noticed could use some additionally descriptive text is: “We all head to the cafeteria where we are greeted with their known Bannock with jam. “. I have never had bannock and this sentence could have been more descriptive about the flavor, the emotion of friendship around the table whilst eating the bannock or even describing the hard work that someone put into making it. This sentence did take me out of that sense of embodiment, just because I have no reference for what bannock tastes like.
I noticed that you really do value the true Canadian meaning, because as you put it: “We take pride in being rich in culture and seeing the treasures in what the various cultures bring.” This is a beautiful way to describe being Canadian, by acknowledging that there is a myriad of different cultures within Canada and that they can all contribute something new and valuable.
Thank you for your post again, Lovelee. I look forward to hearing more from you during the semester!
Hello Brooke! Thank you for your input.
I do not find myself a good writer, especially with storytelling so it is very heartwarming to hear good points of my story that I would not expect. 🙂
I did not know the true meaning behind Pow Wow dancing at that time and have learned A LOT in my recent class of Indigenous Studies. At that time the only things I knew about the history of the First Nations were how they had a role in the coming together of Canada and their ways of living in certain areas along with the weapons they have used for battles. The Indigenous Studies class has helped me gain a deeper knowledge of their connection to the world and all living things. Going back to this memory and writing about it, I have not only added more details to bring out the beauty in their culture, but to give the reader a glance of the true definition behind this performance.
I totally agree with your feedback about the bannock part of my story. There are probably more people like you who have never tried bannock before so a little description of either its taste or appearance could have given the reader or you a better vision of it.
It was nice hearing from you! See you in class.
Cheers,
Lovelee C