Indigenous culture was front and centre at Lambton College Thursday for its 29th annual Pow Wow.
The event at the Cestar Group Athletics and Fitness Complex kicked off with the traditional Grand Entry, and included traditional food, vendors, and information booths.
Director of Indigenous Education Jane Manning said the Pow Wow gets bigger every year.
"It's really exciting to see settler society say I want to learn, I want to understand what that looks like and I want to come and appreciate what is important to (First Nation people)," she said.
At least 1,300 students registered to attend the event.
According to Manning, that number does not include community members and college staff.
She said every year the event is held there is a newness to it.
"With every year people are becoming more informed, more educated on what that means about truth and reconciliation," Manning said.
She added that having an event like this is important to change mindsets, especially at a young age.
"When this is part of our upbringing, when we see it every day and it becomes normalized to see First Nation people celebrating and appreciating and knowing that they participated in something that brought them a lot of joy," Manning said.
Additionally, President and CEO of Lambton College Rob Kardas said whenever he attends the Pow Wow he feels great humility.
"We've done it for 29 years, it kicks off the Pow Wow season for our surrounding communities and it's a great signal from Lambton College every year that this college will always make space for truth, justice and reconciliation," he said.
Kardas believes that there is education about First Nation people and their culture through a Pow Wow.
"I would hope events like today spur some discussion around what is the truth," he said. "It's not a proud truth by any means but what is the truth?"
Kardas added with next year being the 30th year, the plan is to build on the already big event.
