The 14th annual Georgian College Pow Wow was another success and keeps growing every year, organizers say.
Saturday's event attracted a couple thousand people to the gymnasium at the Barrie campus, where onlookers got to see different dances, music, wares and regalia in celebration of one of the season’s first powwows.
Greg McGregor, the manager of the college’s Indigenous services department, told BarrieToday that it takes a while to get the planning underway for the event, but its popularity is due to many things.
“It takes about two and a half months, because we start when we come back from the Christmas break and get going in January,” said McGregor. “Being that this is now 14 years going, the community knows about it and many folks look forward to coming out.
"The other great thing about it is the free admission, with all we ask being a food donation that goes to the college’s student food locker, which helps with the starving student’s analogy," he added. "We’re also if not the first of the year, at least the first one I know of and that is big because everyone is anxious to get out of winter and into the powwow season.”
There were many vendors selling hand-made Indigenous crafts and literature on the culture.
McGregor says anyone involved with the event or with experience at a powwow is glad to help those who have questions.
“It isn’t an Indigenous only event and that’s pretty clear when you walk around,” he said. “It's great every year to see people who say it’s their first time, because that’s what a powwow is about. It is about community and friendship.”
