It was a day filled with celebration and dance at the Winfield Memorial Hall as the Lake Country Native Association hosted their 27th annual Winter Family Gathering Powwow.

More than 200 people squeezed into the venue to celebrate Indigenous heritage through song, dance, food, and much more.

The event ran from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. but the main event came an hour in with the grand entrance. 

Included in attendance was Lake Country mayor Blair Ireland, council members Bib Patel, Tricia Brett and Todd McKenzie, Central Okanagan Public School (SD23) trustee Amy Geistlinger, SD23 Deputy Superintendent and nearly retired Terry-Lee Beaudry.

"I'm super excited to see all the youth and the kids here," said Ireland. "It's great to see them learning the culture... it's all about future generations."

Ireland also said when addressing the crowd that the District of Lake Country is very close to breaking ground on a new cultural centre in town. Additionally, he briefly discussed the recent 'historic' signing between Okanagan-Similkameen First Nations and local governments and said the next meeting for it is taking place in Lake Country.

Geistlinger talked about how she commonly observes the sylix language in various schools and is proud to hear it. 

At the event, various Indigenous vendors were selling a variety of items.