Four Directions

PONOKA IS LOCATED IN CENTRAL ALBERTA, CANADA. SURROUNDED BY PRAIRIE FIELDS AND HUGE SKY, PONOKA IS ADJACENT TO MASKWACIS, WHICH IS HOME TO FOUR CREE COMMUNITIES.

Ponoka has a unique history that was revealed over the course of Darkspark’s week there. Surrounded by First Nations territories, the Darkspark team learned that Ponoka itself used to be a reservation. We were fortunate to collaborate with an incredible team of Elders, local Indigenous historians and educators who taught us so much about this place, the land and the history we walked on while there. 

While there, our team collaborated with Grade 7 & 8 youth, teacher Tia Vandermeer, First Nations educator Josephine Small, Cree Elder Effie Janvier, Calgary artist Tristan Bent and staff at Ponoka Secondary Campus.

Thanks to Heritage Canada, Wolf Creek Public School and the National Arts Centre / Centre national des Arts – Music Alive Program for their support in bringing The Four Directions Project to Ponoka.