You won't believe what happened at that powwow

Good morning from the Parkland — here's what matters in Dauphin today.

Folks, I just heard something that’s got me shaking my head this morning. Parents are pretty upset, and rightfully so, after their kids apparently received condoms and some really inappropriate materials at a school division powwow celebration out southwest. Now, a powwow is supposed to be a place of cultural learning and respect, a community gathering where our kids connect with heritage. To hear that something like this happened, that kids were handed stuff like that, it just doesn't sit right. It’s a real shame for what should be a proud and meaningful event.

### What This Means for Our Kids

This isn’t just some one-off incident. When you have an event for schoolchildren, especially one meant to celebrate culture, there's an expectation of safety and age-appropriateness. Parents send their kids trusting that they'll be looked after, not exposed to things they shouldn't be.

* This incident raises serious questions about supervision and material distribution at school-sanctioned events.

* It impacts the trust between parents and the school division, which is crucial for our community here in Dauphin and the wider Parkland.

* It overshadows the importance of cultural celebrations like powwows, which are vital for our youth to understand their roots and the rich Indigenous history of this region, from Riding Mountain all the way to the Saskatchewan border.

We work hard to build up our community, whether it's supporting events at Vermillion Park or getting kids involved in activities at the Parkland Recreation Complex. An incident like this, it just makes you wonder how these things are being vetted. Our kids deserve better, and parents deserve answers. It's about ensuring all our community events, especially those for the next generation, are safe and respectful spaces.

Tanya Kovalenko, MiTL Sports Desk, Dauphin.

Catch Keith and the whole gang talk about stories like this every morning, live at mornings.live.