Powwow dancer, DJ visits schools across Wellington County, Guelph

PALMERSTON – Students heard Ojibwe words and traditional beats, learned about regalia with porcupine quills and eagle feathers, and got their bodies moving in a fancy dance at Palmerston Public School. 

It was one of 10 stops on Classic Roots’ tour across Upper Grand District School Board (UGDSB) schools last week.

Classic Roots, or Joshua DePerry, is an Ojibwe and Blackfoot dancer, DJ, music producer  and performer from Thunder Bay (Long Lake 58 First Nation). 

He engaged Palmerston students as soon as they walked into the school’s gymnasium on April 17, talking them through each piece of his regalia as he dressed for a performance. 

He showed them the details of each piece, from the moccasins held together with duct tape due to years of dancing to the handmade porcupine roach on his head that cost $1,500. 

It’s important to take good care of regalia, DePerry told the students. 

He explained how he found the two eagle feathers he wears atop his head while climbing Mount McKay in Thunder Bay. He got the students to say the Ojibwe name for the mountain: Anemki Wajw, which means Thunder Mountain. 

When he found the feathers DePerry said he placed down some sacred medicine, tobacco, as to take them without leaving something in return would be stealing.

A student asked whether all Indigenous dancers  wear the same regalia, and DePerry explained that everyone’s is unique – “mine represents my Ojibwe tribe, and every dancer has different designs, colours and shapes.” 

When one student asked DePerry if he was going to dance for them – the hope palpable in her voice – and he confirmed, she squealed with delight and many other kids in the room cheered.  

DePerry did a Man’s Fancy Dance to two traditional songs, including War Cry by Northern Cree. 

He has been dancing since he was seven years old, the same age as many of the Palmerston students who watched him dance in awe. 

And he said he hopes to keep dancing until he’s 90 years old. 

As soon as the first song came to an end, a few students called out “Again!”

DePerry performed for six classes in Palmerston, with students in Grades 1 through 8.  Principal Jennifer Oussouren said they selected classes with Indigenous students. 

The students had lots of questions for DePerry, beginning with: how did he manage to pull off a cartwheel wearing all that regalia? 

“Practice,” he replied with a laugh. 

Just last week, DePerry performed for 20 groups of UGDSB students – two groups at one school every morning, and two groups at a second school every afternoon. 

That included Arthur, Kenilworth, Minto Clifford, Elora, Grand River (Fergus), J.D. Hogarth (Fergus), Victoria Terrace (Fergus), Paisley Road (Guelph) and Willow Road (Guelph) public schools. 

DePerry said soaking in a bath with lavender helps his muscles relax enough to keep going with the high-energy dancing every day. He was set to drive back home later that day, and said he’s looking forward to seeing his 10-year-old dog, Titan, who the students were excited to see a photo of. 

DePerry finished up the presentation by teaching the kids “some powwow moves you can take home with you.” 

They got to their feet and danced along to DePerry’s original song Mishomis’
Prayer, which includes his grandfather speaking Ojibwe. 

The song is available on all streaming platforms, he told the kids. 

DePerry said the Palmerston students were one of the best groups he’s worked with because they listened, participated and enjoyed the dancing. 

“Baamaapii,” he said to the students – “I’ll see you soon.”