NORTH BAY -- Canadore College in North Bay is hosting its 30th annual pow-wow Saturday.

The pow-wow is being organized by the college’s First Peoples’ Centre and the Aboriginal Student Association. The two-day pow-wow began Friday morning with community teachings on a variety of Indigenous traditions including the hand drum, healing circle and hoop dance.

On Saturday, dance leaders marched to the beat of the drum to kick off the grand entrance.

“My favourite part is that there’s always new songs that are coming out with different drum groups and watching the little ones having a great time,” says Elder Peter Beaucage of Nipissing First Nation.

For Kevin Wassegijig of the Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory, this pow-wow is extra special. He was part of a group of young students at Canadore College 30 years ago who wanted to see a pow-wow every year. Now the college is carrying on this tradition.

“We started the Native Student Association as what it was called back then. We wanted students to succeed, specifically here at Canadore, so this was part of making it feel like we are part of the community,” says Wassegijig.

Up until 1951, pow-wows were forbidden through the Indian Act unless it was for a special occasion. This grave moment in First Nation’s history still haunts generations. Almost 70 years later, the healing continues.

“We want to show appreciation to anyone who has helped plan the pow wow, who’s attended, and who had any hand in helping out in the past 30 years,” says Canadore Aboriginal Student Association spokesperson Margaret Jamieson-Hopkins.

Pow-wows consist of song and dance. It’s also a reunion between First Nation tribes across the land. Perhaps, one of the more reflective moments during the ceremony came from the traditional women’s dance.

“The women’s traditional dancers represent the grandmothers and our dance steps are very close to Mother Earth,” Matachewan First Nation member Holly Buffalo Rodrique.

The celebration doesn’t conclude when the music stops and when everyone heads home, as First Nations say, they are always celebrating their culture and heritage.