For Immediate Release
July 7, 2022
Lethbridge & District Exhibition and the Blackfoot Confederacy Announce the first Lethbridge & District Siksikaitsitapi
Lethbridge, AB – Lethbridge & District Exhibition, in partnership with the Blackfoot Confederacy, proudly announce this year’s Whoop-Up Days presented by Visit Lethbridge will include the introduction of the first Lethbridge & District Siksikaitsitapi Pow Wow on August 24-25, the first Lethbridge & District Siksikaitsitapi Princess Pageant on August 23-24, and Warrior Relay Races at the Lethbridge & District Pro Rodeo from August 25-27.
Lethbridge & District Exhibition is honoured to partner with the Blackfoot Confederacy to build connections that create lasting impacts and programs that will benefit our community for decades to come. The Lethbridge & District Siksikaitsitapi Pow Wow and the Lethbridge & District Siksikaitsitapi Princess Pageant honour the Blackfoot land, its culture and its people in the gathering place where celebration and connection first occurred in the heart of Blackfoot territory.
The cultural showcases at this year’s Whoop-Up Days presented by Visit Lethbridge will be kicked off this year’s parade festivities on August 23 at 9 a.m. at Park Place Mall with parade marshals Chief Roy Fox of Kainai Nation, Chief Stanley Grier from Piikani Nation and Chief Ouray Crowfoot from Siksika Nation.
The Lethbridge & District Siksikaitsitapi Pow Wow will invite dancers to register at no cost to participate in Tiny Tots, Junior, Teen, Adult Men, Adult Women and Golden Age categories in Buckskin, Chicken, Fancy, Grass, Jingle, Traditional and Drumming categories. The Pow Wow will include cash prize pay-outs for each category totaling over $65,000. The Grand Entry will take place at 1 p.m. each day, with the Pow Wow ending at 7 p.m. before the Lethbridge & District Pro Rodeo. This Pow Wow honours the unique and rich cultural history of the land and First Nations People, and we invite the community to witness the beauty and knowledge that is rooted in the drumming and dancing of competitive Pow Wow.
The Lethbridge & District Siksikaitsitapi Princess Pageant will invite princess pageant contestants to compete for the title of Miss Siksikaitsitapi on August 23. The winner will be crowned at Pow Wow on August 24. Pageant contestants will be invited to compete in Tiny Tots, Junior and Senior categories. The crowned Miss Siksikaitsitapi winner will represent Lethbridge & District Exhibition and the Blackfoot Confederacy as an ambassador throughout the year.Pageant contestants will be included in the Whoop-Up Days Parade, and will be scored on their essay submission, speech, dance and talent showcase.
Lastly, attendees are invited to witness one of the most high-intensity elements of this year’s Lethbridge & District Pro Rodeo from August 25-27. The rodeo will feature daily competitions of Warrior Relay Races with a total of $20,000 purse prize winnings. Warrior Relay Races showcase riders riding bareback on thoroughbred horses with action-packed moments and high-energy excitement. Riders jump from one horse to the next in laps around the race track, with two transfers in a race. We invite the community and our guests to experience horse racing like never before at this year’s rodeo.
“Our partnership with the Blackfoot Confederacy allows us to celebrate inclusive events that holistically represent Southern Alberta’s Indigenous stories-right here in Blackfoot territory where celebration, connection and gathering begun,” says Mike Warkentin, Chief Executive Officer, Lethbridge & District Exhibition. “The beauty of drumming, Pow Wow, Princess Pageantry and Warrior Racing is a sacred and humbling experience to witness, and we are fortunate to create that legacy at Whoop-Up Days, together for generations to come.”
More information, and registrations for the Pow Wow and Princess Pageant will be available at WhoopUpDays.ca.
We invite each of our corporate partners to participate in the celebrations at Whoop-Up Days from August 23-27.
Whoop-Up Days and Lethbridge & District Pro Rodeo tickets on-sale now at WhoopUpDays.ca.
About Lethbridge & District Exhibition
Lethbridge & District Exhibition is the premiere destination for bringing people together from all over the world in Lethbridge. We accelerate economic opportunity through the delivery of memorable experiences. For more information, please visit agrifoodhub.ca.
About the Blackfoot Confederacy
The Siksikaitsitapi – Blackfoot Confederacy is a Tribal Council for the Blackfoot Confederacy Nations of Kainai-Blood Tribe, Siksika, Peigan-Piikani and Aamskapi Pikuni. For more information, visit BlackfootConfederacy.ca.
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Media Contact
Mevisha Maistry
Director, Communications, Marketing & Event Development
Lethbridge & District Exhibition
(780) 691-4956 | mevisha.maistry@agrifoodhub.ca