KIKINO - The rodeo season was in full swing in the Lakeland region over the summer months. Returning to the area recently was the 32nd annual Kikino Cultural Celebration Days and Silver Birch Rodeo, where dozens of competitions and entertainment were showcased.
From Aug. 19 to 21, the community staple drew an impressive crowd from all across the region to the Métis settlement, located roughly 40 km south of the hamlet of Lac La Biche, said Lee Thom, organizer and Kikino councillor.
“We don't have the numbers yet. They will be based on the revenue that we account for,” he says, adding he was happy with numbers so far.
The weekend saw the resort fully booked with campers that stayed all weekend. “I don't know if it's just the public’s experience, but I'll tell you, man, everybody who's anybody came out… this year was our year. I believe that this was the best year.”
During the three-day rodeo event, the Lakeland Rodeo Association (LRA) hosted several rodeo events from bareback, bull riding and barrel racing, among many others, while handing out thousands of dollars in prizes to the top performers alongside Short Fisher Buckles provided by the settlement.
With the annual event back in action this year, the chuckwagon races and a new event special to Indigenous communities debuted - the Indian Relay Races, said Thom.
“We added the Indian Relay to the show this year and it’s an event that's growing and growing, and flying like wildfire across Alberta and Canada,” he says of the exhilarating horse riding team race.
The event drew four local Métis members who participated on Saturday and Sunday evening on the daring race track, which was also an amazing opportunity to join the exclusive club that is not only allowed to host the intense race, but also participate.
“It put us to the next level… we had a team of four from our settlement representing us funded by Kikino, and we had them uniformed by our community,” he said, with competitors wearing ribbons and attire symbolic to the Kikino area.
“The community was so proud to be able to watch that and it was such an awesome event,” he says. It also allowed the team to secure to compete in the Indian Relay Race tournament that will be held in Enoch during the long weekend.
Community participation
While the weekend attendance was booming, Thom said connecting with the thousands of visitors, riders, organizers, sponsors, the LRA and the stock contractors made the event successful. Moving forward, the event is shaping up to be even bigger and better every year, he explains.
While the annual event was cancelled for two years during the global COVID-19 pandemic, being able to have a slew of performers, activities and the hallmark firework show definitely brought joy to visitors that packed the area.
"This event is a community event that takes a community to host. Thanks to everyone from the administration to the local security to the Kikino council,” and for keeping the Rodeo that debuted over 30-years-ago going and strong.
Top results from the LRA-sanctioned rodeo include:
Bareback: Colton Oeullette
Saddle Bronc: Tyrel Roberts
Bull Riding: Blake Jackson
Steer Wrestling: Casey Olson
Tie Down Roping: Austin Young
Team Roping: TJ Milne and Linden Rohloff
Ladies Barrel Racing: Cati Mcarthur
Novice Horse Riding: Denver Leitch and Hayle Lueders
Junior Bulls: Denver Leitch
Junior Steers: Nash Loewen
