City set to host INFR qualifiers

By Lethbridge Herald on July 24, 2025.

Alexandra Noad
Lethbridge Herald
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Spectators will be able to enjoy the riveting experience of pro rodeo as the Rocky Mountain Turf Club will be hosting qualifiers for the Indian National Finals Rodeo (INFR) for the first time on Friday and Saturday.

Almost 600 Indigenous rodeo athletes from all over Canada and the U.S. will be competing to earn a prestigious spot in the INFR held in Las Vegas in October.

Contestants of all ages will be competing in various events such as roping, racing and both evenings finishing off with Indian Warrior Relay Races.

Nadine Tailfeathers, senior manager of the Blood Tribe, says with this being one of only two such events held in Canada, everyone is excited to participate and expects it to bring a lot of tourists to the city.

“We’re hoping to encourage a lot more visitors and spectators to come to this venue (and) interact with everybody that’s here.”

Echo Nowak, Indigenous relations specialist for the City of Lethbridge, says this is an exciting opportunity for the city to be hosting an event on such a large scale and expects this will be a first of many.

“We were able to pull this off last minute so if we can do so much and get 600 contestants and 14 warrior teams within a month’s notice, I can only imagine what next year is going to be like.”

Horsemanship has been a central part to Indigenous culture for many years and Tailfeathers says the success of Indigenous rodeo athletes is a testament to that.

“Through Indian rodeo we have come a long way; we have generations of people that have grown up in the rodeo arena, the junior rodeos go on to become the adult contestants and the senior contestants, so we’re really happy to promote that and build more community around rodeo and rodeo events.”

Nowak says events such as this show how deep Indigenous cultures are and there’s something everyone can enjoy.

“It just goes to show that we are so much more, I mean powwow and dance is always amazing, but he have such talented sportsmen and people that it’s great to showcase that.

Among the rodeo there will also be a market for everyone to enjoy.

The slack will begin at 9 a.m. with the main events taking place at 6 p.m. both days.