A Visit from Peter White: Story, Dance, and Faith in Action
The gym at St. Bernadette School was filled with anticipation as students gathered for a very special visitor. Peter White, an Aboriginal speaker and Pow-wow dancer from the Yaqan Nukiy tribe in Creston, BC, stepped forward dressed in breathtaking traditional regalia. A member of the Ktunaxa Nation, Peter came to share stories from his life and his culture, and his presence immediately commanded both respect and wonder.
He began with words. His voice carried the history of his people, but also the story of his own journey; a story marked by hardship, healing, and a return to the traditions of his ancestors. Students leaned in as he spoke about what dancing means to him, not as performance, but as medicine and prayer. He explained that each piece of his regalia carried meaning, stitched with memory and responsibility, connecting him to those who came before him.
When he danced, the gym was transformed. The steady rhythm of his steps, the sound of the bells fastened to his outfit, and the movement of the colors and patterns of his regalia filled the room with energy. It was not a performance to watch from a distance. It was a sacred act of expression, and for many students, their first encounter with Pow-wow dancing in person.
Then came an invitation. Peter asked everyone to join him in a round dance. Hesitant at first, students and teachers formed a circle. Soon, the circle came alive, step after step moving in unison. The dance broke down barriers between speaker and audience, performer and observer. It became a shared act of respect, friendship, and joy.
Afterward, Peter opened the floor to questions. Students asked about his regalia, his traditions, and how he found strength during difficult times. His answers were thoughtful and heartfelt, teaching that culture and faith are not separate, but deeply connected to how a person walks through life.
For our school community, the visit was more than a cultural presentation. It was a moment of learning that touched on the Catholic call to reconciliation and respect for the dignity of every person. The circle dance reflected our own understanding of unity in Christ, where all are welcome and all have a place. Peter’s testimony of struggle and renewal reminded us of the Gospel truth that from suffering can come new life.
As the day closed, students left with more than knowledge. They carried with them the memory of moving together in the round dance, the sound of bells ringing through the gym, and the reminder that faith, culture, and healing can meet in powerful ways. Peter White did not simply tell us about his traditions, he invited us to live them alongside him, if only for a moment.
The Catholic Church in Canada states that a true commitment to truth and reconciliation must move beyond words to concrete actions that allow Indigenous peoples to share their gifts, and the Bishops’ 2022 declaration expressly calls for the invitation of First Nations members into Catholic schools so that their cultural arts, dance and prayer become part of the educational environment. In that declaration the bishops pledged to “support Catholic educational institutions, seminaries and religious houses…to foster a greater understanding of Indigenous cultural, linguistic, and spiritual traditions and to include opportunities for encounters with Indigenous communities as part of their programs”. By welcoming First Nations artists and worshippers into school life, the Church seeks to create spaces where students experience the richness of Indigenous spirituality, learn mutual respect, and participate in the “living body of reconciliation” that Pope Francis describes as the very nature of the Church2. This collaborative approach embodies the bishops’ promise to “walk side by side…recognizing the rights and cultural values of all peoples” and to turn dialogue into tangible, local action that heals wounded memories.