First Nations Centre Holds Year End Social Gathering

The First Nations Centre at Fanshawe College held its annual Year End Social Gathering at the London Campus on April 7, 2010.

Mason Sands dances at the Fanshawe First Nations Centre Year-End Gathering
April 7, 2010.
Click here for more photos from the event.

The Gathering, held at the College since 1999, is part of a nationally-recognized series known as the "Pow-Wow Trail," and attracts participants from many First Nations groups throughout the region.

Attended by many people from London and the surrounding area, the Gathering is a traditional social with drums, singers and dancers in regalia, along with food and crafts celebrating the cultural heritage of many Aboriginal students at Fanshawe.

Donna Smith-Sutherland and Bev Antone present Clintin Young (centre) with the 2009-10 Student of the Year and October 2009 Student of the Month awards

The theme of this year's Year End Gathering was Celebrating Student Success, and the event featured a showcase of student accomplishments throughout the academic year.

Business Foundations student Clintin Young was presented with the First Nations Centre Student of the Year Award for 2009-10. Clintin was the Centre's Student of the Month award recipient for October 2009 and was honoured as the Student of the Year for being very active in the First Nations Centre in addition to being academically successful.

Fine Art student Clayton King displayed his artwork at the event, including this painting called The Relay.

"The Year End Social Gathering is a day for the Aboriginal community to honour and acknowledge our students," said Donna Smith-Sutherland, Supervisor of Fanshawe's First Nations Centre. "It's also an opportunity for our non-native friends and the greater College community to observe and participate in cultural dancing and singing, and sample traditional food."