Stampede royalty

By Lethbridge Herald on October 31, 2025.

Submitted Photo Raegan First Rider has been crowned as the 2026 Calgary Stampede Princess and will attend many engagements representing both the Kainai Nation and Treaty 7.

Alexandra Noad
Lethbridge Herald
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The Calgary Stampede has announced a 20-year-old Kainai Nation member has been crowned as the 2026 Calgary Stampede First Nations Princess.

Ever since she was little, Raegan First Rider (Isspiitaapoyi-Stands Tall, With Pride) has wanted to be a princess, so being crowned as the Calgary Stampede First Nations Princess is a lifelong dream for her.

“I remember growing up, seeing the past crowns and thinking ‘I want one so bad, these girls are so amazing,’ so I wanted to be able to fulfill that little girls dream and I’m so excited.”

This isn’t First Rider’s first rodeo representing Kainai nation as a princess, as she also served as Miss Blackfoot Canada in 2022, Kainai High School Princess in 2023 and Miss Kainai Sr. Princess 2023.

Through all of these roles, she represented both the Kainai Nation and Treaty 7, across Canada and the United States. She’ll continue to do that in her newest role.

First Rider says it’s an honour and a dream come true to have the opportunity to share her culture on the world stage and hopes to be an inspiration to other young Indigenous girls who are where she once was when she was younger.

“I hope that I really do touch the hearts of little girls out there, to inspire them to run one day.”

She adds that she is most excited to watch the chuckwagon races, as her great-great grandfather, Joe Young Pine, was a part of a team of eight who, miraculously, obtained special permission to compete at Sydney’s Royal Agriculture Society of New South Wales Rodeo in Australia in 1939.

Back then, due to the Indian Act, Indigenous people did not have the right to travel outside of the country without special permission from the secretary of Indian Affairs in Ottawa, the minister of Mines and Resources and the inspector of Indian Affairs. Negotiations to allow the team to compete lasted for months.

Due to the legacy of her great-great grandfather, First Rider’s title holds extra special meaning to her and her family.

“I want to get to know my great-great grandfather’s story on a deeper level and to see where he started from and to be able to watch it and see what sparked his passion.”

Above all, First Rider say she hopes to be able to represent her nation, along with all of treaty 7 well and is excited for the opportunities the coming year will bring for her.