Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE – Sixth-graders in Peggy Kelley’s social studies class at Presque Isle Middle School were treated to a unique feast the Friday before Thanksgiving break.
For the fifth consecutive year, Kelley – with the help of some of her friends and parent volunteers – hosted a potlatch.
“In Canada, the Northwest Coast Indians created and started potlatch, which means that a man of high standing, or the chief, would give thanks for the land, sea and nature … for everything that they had received,” said Kelley, “and he would invite everybody in the community to come to his potlatch and he would give items to them.
“People who would put on potlatches had to be male and they did it for respect; they didn’t do it for payment or recognition … they just earned massive respect for doing it,” she said. “There was no timeframe to do it once a year like we do for Thanksgiving, but it fit perfectly right now with us giving thanks at Thanksgiving.”
The students have been studying Indian nations that are in Canada, and Kelley tried to make the potlatch as authentic as possible.
“The wild food that we eat is the food that they ate years ago when they were living in the wild,” said Kelley. “A lot of these kids have never experienced these food items; that’s why it’s a really unique thing that I do every year.”
The potlatch featured deer, moose, bear, partridge, wild turkey, poutine and creton.
“We had a sign-up sheet and the kids offered to bring in things,” said Kelley. “The bear meat was provided by Jesse Sullivan and the wild turkey by Connor Murchison because they both did the actual hunting with their dads, and I brought in the partridge.
“The students brought in the items a day or two before – generally frozen – and for the two nights prior to our potlatch, I thawed and cooked everything in slow cook crock pots,” she said. “I had six crock pots cooking in my kitchen, and some things were prepared on a griddle in class, so the smell of cooking food wafted down the hall.”
In addition to the meal, Kelley gave each of her students a small gift.
“The person of high standing, or the chief, when he invited people to come, he always gave items away. Some of the items they gave were moccasins, earrings, necklaces, skins, blankets and handmade items,” she said. “I’m giving the kids tablets and pens from me making believe that I am Rising Star, the chief.”
Kelley said she hoped her students will look back fondly on the experience.
“The seventh- and eighth-graders that have been walking the halls are coming in and saying, ‘I know what you’re doing today,’ because they remember even though it was two years ago,” she said. “They’ll never forget this … giving thanks to somebody, appreciation and connecting it with Canada and the Indians.
“This is a tradition and I will continue it,” Kelley said. “They won’t forget the Indians, they won’t forget Canada and they’ll make that connection. It’s a true learning experience.”
Students Tyler Ayotte and Katelyn Ford enjoyed trying the different meats.
“The moose jerky was a little tough and bitter, and the bear tasted like regular beef jerky,” said Ayotte. “I’m glad I tried it. I had never had it before and I was wondering what it would taste like.”
“Today was a lot of fun because we got to act out what we were learning about,” Ford said. “I had never tried moose or deer meat so that was really cool. The bear meat was really good and juicy. The moose meat was kind of thick … it just melts in your mouth.
“This has been a fun experience,” she said. “I’ve learned a lot. This is something I’ll never forget. It was our own special feast and I’ll remember it always.”
Staff photo/Scott Mitchell Johnson
SIXTH-GRADERS in Peggy Kelley’s social studies class at Presque Isle Middle School were treated to a unique feast the Friday before Thanksgiving break. Shown trying some of the dishes, which included deer, moose, bear, partridge, wild turkey, poutine and creton, are, from left: Kayla Antworth and Tyler Ayotte.
Staff photo/Scott Mitchell Johnson
JOSEPH BOONE, left, and Erica Corey try some of the different food items offered during a potlatch held in Peggy Kelley’s sixth-grade social studies class recently at Presque Isle Middle School.
Staff photo/Scott Mitchell Johnson
SAMPLING SOME OF THE FOOD at the sixth-grade potlatch were, from left: students Michaela Dumais and Patrick Michaud.
