This past Sunday was National Aboriginal Day in Canada, a day of commemoration of what First Nations cultures have done for the country. Schools and the communities have been recognizing this day with its own unique celebrations over the past week.
The Saddle Lake Cree Nation celebrated by hosting its 11th annual stampede this past Friday, Saturday and Sunday at its rodeo grounds. Like the national day, this event’s purpose is to ignite pride in Aboriginal culture. That mission is being accomplished.
“This rodeo seems to get bigger and bigger every year,” says Candice Houle, a board member with the Onihcikiskwapiwin Indian Rodeo Club, which is the group that organized the festivities. “We have around 300 competitors and we have around the same amount of people in the stands watching the event.”
It does seem like this Saddle Lake Rodeo has a good thing going. Houle told the Journal that this rodeo is attracting competitors from as far south as Florida.
The athletes that show up from the United States do put on a good show. Take Steven DeWolfe, a competitor that hails from South Dakota, for example. He produced two stellar bareback rides for the crowd on Friday and Sunday that earned him scores of 81 and 79 respectively. The rodeo announcer said, “he stole the show” along with earning a championship buckle.
The rodeo events being staged on Friday, Saturday and Sunday included bare back riding, steer wrestling, team roping, breakaway racing (for men, women and junior riders), saddle bronc and calf roping.
Pow Wow
Another celebration of culture is happening at Saddle Lake on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The Saddle Lake Iyinowak Annual Pow Wow will feature a dancing and drumming contest, and a handgame tournament among many other ceremonial activities.