Indigenous culture set for spotlight at Whoop-Up Days

By Lethbridge Herald on August 13, 2024.

Dancers participate in the grand entry of the Siksikaitsitapi Powwow at the Agri-food Hub and Trade Centre during last year’s Whoop-Up Days. Herald file photo by Al Beeber

Alexandra Noad – LETHBRIDGE HERALD – Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Whoop-Up Days has been an annual celebration for over 125 years and will be continuing the legacy of rodeo, fair food and rides along with music from both local and mainstream talent.

While this has been a longstanding event in Lethbridge, this year the rich tapestry of Blackfoot culture will be a prominent feature in this year’s celebration.

This year there will be daily performances from Indigenous musicians from 3-6 p.m.  on the Original 16 stage with Willy Big Bull from Wintercount both MCing and performing with the musicians.

There will be no shortage of variety of music from these Indigenous artists including rock from Pollux, a band from Sisika Nation, hip-hop from Alchemy the Linguist, formally known as Donny Sage. Big Bull will be performing with his band Wintercount.

Big Bull has worked with several of the artists in his mentorship program and says he has loved seeing their improvements and is excited to see them bring the community together.

“I get to collaborate with these artists. They’re going to be lending all of their talents to my music mentorship program, which benefits First Nations Kids Here in the Blackfoot Confederacy. It’s something that’s just growing and growing. This is the exact line of work that I love to do. I love to put together gatherings, bringing people into the circle and watching them all enjoy each other’s company in a very healthy, wholesome way,” said Big Bull.

Along with the Indigenous artists, there will also be a powwow, Princess Pageant and Relay Races for people to enjoy. There will also be an Indigenous market at the powwow which will showcase handmade items from Blackfoot culture.

Big Bull says it is refreshing to see a significant increase in Indigenous representation at events such as Whoop-Up Days.

“I love our First Nations representation at a gatherings like Whoop-Up Days, which really, I feel, has been absent for years past. Now with the music stage as well as the third annual powwow they’re having it’s great. I love being a part of the resurgence of our First Nations Blackfoot people here in our own home territory It’s something that I think people are going to really be happy that this is going to be a prominent part of this gathering,” said Big Bull.

The third-annual Siksikaitsitapi Powwow will start at 1 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday and attracts top competitors from Western Canada and the United States with the amount of payouts totaling over $65,000.

The Siksikaitsitapi Princess Pageant will kick off on Tuesday, with the contestants being judged on speeches essay submissions, dance and a talent show and the winners of each category will represent Lethbridge & District Exhibition and the Siksikaitsitapi – Blackfoot Confederacy as an ambassador throughout the year.

The Relay Races are a thrilling event where the riders race bareback and must jump to another horse mid race. They will be the most high-intensity event of the pro-rodeo which runs Thursday through Saturday. Lethbridge and District Pro Rodeo is the only rodeo event in Canada to include Relay Racing in their program.

This year, for the first time, there will be a traditional games celebration held at the Agri-Food Hub on both Friday and Saturday at 3 p.m. The Blackfoot Confederacy will also be taking part in the Whoop-Up parade which will kick off the five-day festival at 9 a.m. starting at the Park Place Shopping Centre.

Big Bull says this kind of representation not only educates the people of Lethbridge about the Blackfoot culture, but it also helps Blackfoot people feel like they belong.

“It’s so good for our First Nations people to come together, in these kinds of capacities and to walk away feeling like our circle has grown and then we’re more connected. I do feel the inner city First Nations people, they kind of get left out of the gatherings.

We don’t make it out to all the sundances and ceremonies. We can’t always go out to the powwows and the other gatherings or other events say out there on the reserve. And this is kind of bringing it all back to our home right here in Sikoohkotoki, right in our backyard now. So it’s kind of the time for all the First Nations people here in Lethbridge to get together and celebrate as well,” said Big Bull.

Whoop-Up Days will run from Aug. 20-24. While Whoop-up Days has returned to an admission-based model, there will be free admission every day from noon-3 p.m. for all attendees. The Indigenous programing will be included in admission, excluding the Relay Racing which needs a Pro-Rodeo ticket.

“Our partnership with the Blackfoot Confederacy is something we celebrate not only during Whoop-Up Days, but throughout the entire year,” says Paul Kingsmith, Director, Community Engagement. “We have worked closely with Confederacy members and Elders to create meaningful and authentic experiences that help showcase Blackfoot culture to our region. We’re proud of the way these initiatives are incorporated as a key part of our fair and we invite the entire community to take part.”

Comments are closed.