The Aboriginal Students' Council at Lambton College is very excited to bring to the college for the first time ever in the college's history, a cultural gathering and celebration called a "Round Dance." It is a social event based around traditional hand drum singing and dancing. This even is quite different from a Pow Wow.
Traditionally, Round Dances were held in honour of loved ones who have passed on. Today they are still held as memorial gatherings but also for weddings, graduations, birthdays, anniversaries and anything worth a big celebration. We would like to celebrate the diversity of Lambton College by inviting all students from all cultures to come and celebrate together.
The Round Dance ceremony comes from our Cree relatives of the western plains. The recent popularity of this type of gathering has caught on here in the Great Lakes area. More communities are hosting their own Round Dances.
The event consists of an emcee and a stickman who keeps the event in motion and acknowledges the lead singers and any other singers who arrive. He also is in charge of choosing the next lead singer to sing 4 songs with the help of any other singers. Spectators can choose to take part in the dance called "the side step". This dance is slow and to the beat of the hand drums. The dancers dance in a circle around the table of singers; hence the event's name, "Round Dance". The night is a great opportunity to socialize with friends and family but to also meet new people.
In addition, the evening will include a silent auction and a traditional food booth to raise money and awareness for the Annual Pow Wow being held at the college on April 2, 2015.
We would like to bring this very special event from the First Nation culture to the students, staff and faculty of Lambton College. We always look to educate the Lambton College and local community on the culture and traditions of the First Nations people in the interests of understanding, diversity and friendship.