### Did you hear about these powwow materials?

Morning from the Central Plains — here's what's moving through Portage today. You know, we're always talking about what's coming and going on the Trans-Canada, but sometimes it's what's happening just off the highway that really gets people talking. And this one? It's got parents in the region wanting answers, and frankly, I can see why.

Parents in a school division here in southwestern Manitoba are pretty upset. They're saying that at a recent powwow celebration, students were handed out condoms and other sexually explicit materials. Now, a powwow is a community event, a cultural celebration for our kids, often held at places like Island Park or the Keeshkeemaquah Conference Centre here in Portage. The idea that something like this happened at an event meant for cultural learning and community gathering, well, it just doesn't sit right with most folks I'm talking to down at the co-op.

* This wasn't a health class, it was a cultural celebration.

* Parents expect schools to be transparent about what's given to their kids.

* It raises questions about oversight for events involving students.

This isn't about the powwow itself, which is a vital part of our community's heritage, especially for our Métis and First Nations families. It's about how something like this could even happen at a school-sanctioned event. Whether you're west of the Diversion or east of the rail yards, parents here expect a certain standard when their kids are involved. They want to know how this happened and what steps are being taken to make sure it doesn't again. It's a matter of trust between the schools and the families that call this part of Manitoba home.

Darren Flett, MiTL Sports Desk, Portage la Prairie.

The crew on the morning show is digging into this one, catch their take live at mornings.live.