Arbor Vitae-Woodruff Elementary, 15 miles from the Lac Du Flambeau reservation, recently hosted a student-led powwow, designed to foster cultural understanding. The school has hosted powwows in the past, but this year featured the school’s own brand new, handcrafted drum. After-school sessions were open to all students, teaching them Native culture, drumming, and songs honoring Native Americans, the military, and veterans, concluding with an inclusive intertribal song and dance. Tribe member and school mentor Bernard Lemieux explained the drum circle promotes “togetherness, teamwork, having a good time and being respectful.”