Thousands across the Sarnia-Lambton community came to celebrate, dance, and learn at Lambton College's 31st annual Pow Wow.
The event featured dance demonstrations, traditional Indigenous food, intertribal songs arts and craft vendors.
It also had more of a loud and confident atmosphere after an Indigenous mural installation at Sarnia's City Hall led to some negative comments.
Head Dancer for Pow Wow Gordan Bressette said despite the comments that were made, the event feels like a step forward.
"This is a big thing about that. Even though we've been doing this for so many years, those comments that were made not that long ago and having this event today, it shows that we're still kicking and we're good and it's almost like a step forward," he said.
The Pow Wow is aimed at not only recognizing Indigenous culture but to educate non-Indigenous people as well. It's a great opportunity for students, teachers and others to try something new, whether trying a new food, learning a new dance or listening to new music.
President of the Indigenous Student Council Sierra Cottrelle said Pow Wow is an opportunity to spread truth and learn a new culture in a comfortable, safe way.
"To our college, it means truth and reconciliation and teaching both the surrounding community and schools as well as our own school about our culture in a very friendly and open way," she said.
Cottrelle said she has seen the event grow since she was a first year student.
"Since I started as a first year, it's grown quite a bit. We have improved providing information and giving the community a sense of openness and allowing them to come in and being open, it's available for everyone, not just the Indigenous community and anyone is able to come and participate," she said.
On top of the learning experience that the Pow Wow provides, there were many vendors at the event showcasing a wide variety of Indigenous hats, earrings, ornaments, feathers and other clothing items.
Vendor Quinn Williams said Indigenous events like the Pow Wow allow the Indigenous community to come together and calibrate their culture.
"I think it's good for the community because it brings the Indigenous people in. This is a time of celebration. It shows off our skills, our culture to the people that don't understand. It's a good learning opportunity and it's just a good, fun energy around here," he said.
Williams also said the negative comments won't stop the Indigenous community from showing who they are.
"I feel like people are going to say what they want. That's not going to stop us from who we are, what we do, and what we're about," he said.
***This story was written by Evan Frederiksen. Evan is a student in the Fanshawe College journalism program, and is currently doing an internship with SarniaNewsToday.ca.
