Helping organize the 27th annual Lambton College Pow Wow was a dream come true for one student.
Indigenous student council president Jessica Wilde, from Kettle and Stoney Point First Nation, said she's attended the event since she was a child.
Lambton College Indigenous student council president Jessica Wilde.
"When I was younger, it was my first time ever knowing what a college was when I came to these annual powwow's and it's always been something I wanted to be a part of," said Wilde. "I would be at the powwow, but also exploring the college. Looking in the windows seeing kids studying in the library. You see yourself being that person when you get older."
Wilde is wrapping up her first year in Lambton's Social Service Worker program.
She said holding the event at the college exposes their vibrant culture to so many new people.
"It's more accessible to people. When you have a powwow on a First Nation, there's a stigma that goes along with that, so a lot of people don't really make there way out."
Wilde believed Thursday's event, held in the college's new athletic and fitness complex, had record setting attendance.
"It's our first time having it in this gym. We were worried that not enough people were going to come to fill this space, but everybody's here! It's beautiful!"
In addition to dance demonstrations, traditional food and arts and craft vendors, the powwow featured an onsite tipi for the first time.
14 month old Zeppelin Plain takes in the 27th annual Pow Wow @LambtonCollege in Sarnia. #SLont pic.twitter.com/TcC4xnMXQx
— Melanie Irwin (@MIrwinCHOKNews) April 4, 2019
