CREDIT: AGATA LESNIK
The annual Year End Social Gathering consists of traditional dance and drum circles.

Fanshawe College's First Nations Centre will be hosting on March 26 its Year End Social Gathering to celebrate student success.

The event will feature indigenous dancing, music, food, arts and crafts, and vendor and information booths.

There will also be traditional teachings from Ojibwa Elder Richard Assinewai, who will teach “Caring for Sacred Items,” and Cayuga Longhouse Faith Keeper Ken Maracle, who will teach “Wampum Teachings.”

“The Year End Gathering is an opportunity for everyone to connect and realize that we have more similarities than we have differences,” Fanshawe First Nations Centre manager Kevin Lamure said. “We all have our own cultures, whether you're Polish or Scottish or Irish or Indian from India, we all have many similarities as human beings, and we all march to the beat of some kind of drum.”

The powwow and longhouse style dances will feature about 50 in dress and three or four drums. There will also be a smoke dance competition.

“It's just a good cultural time,” Fanshawe student Rosina Ferris said.

There will be representatives from the 10 indigenous nations around London, including from Six Nations of the Grand River First Nation and peoples from the Oneida and Ojibwa nations.

“It's a way for us to share our culture with everyone,” said Darr Sands, vice president of Fanshawe's First Nations Association. “It's a celebration.”

The traditional teachings will be held between 9 and 10:30 a.m. The Wampum Teachings will be M-2047, and the “Caring for Sacred Items” teaching will be in room D-1060. While they are open to everyone, those who wish to attend have to contact the First Nations Centre at 519-452-4430 ext. 4619 or firstnations@fanshawec.ca to register as space is limited.

The dance demonstrations and vendors will be held in J-gym between 11 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.