VAS Indigenous Gathering of Nations village
The Valley Agricultural Society Fair Committee has over the last few years been developing a more diverse exhibition. Our goal is to include cultural venues to the Manitoba Stampede. The Fair Committee members approached Ginew First Nations and Manitoba Metis to create cultural awareness and cultural teachings. Members of the Fair Committee met with several respected Indigenous cultural Teachers from Ginew First Nations, Josephine Hartin, Lucy Ducharme and Gail Lakatos. In the spring of 2017 the new vision for indigenous cultural gathering place was realized that this was a great fit for the Manitoba Stampede. Our combined vision was to create the “Gathering of Nations” an Indigenous village with several Tipi’s lodges, drum dances and indigenous teachings of several different tribes, Ojibway, Cree, Dakota Sioux and Metis to the Manitoba Stampede.
We recognize the funding announced in February 2017 from the Morris Area Foundation donation would be the initial dollars to achieve our vision. The Gather of Nations Village was started with several Tipi’s (Teepee’s) set up on the ground to serve as a village.
For July 2017 Manitoba Stampede and Exhibition; The VAS Fair Committee and Members of the First Nations community were able to meet with fair guests and share in traditional teachings such as beading, dancing, wildlife tanning, treaties just to name a few. On Saturday, July 22, 2017 an afternoon presentation in the Rempel Free Stage and an evening performance of the Indigenous Dances were performed by the Summer Bear Dancing Troupe; before over 3000 people in the Stampede Grand Stand arena. The Evening performance ended with great applause and was posted live on Facebook and has been viewed over 2000 times. The sharing of this rich culture and celebrate the history was a fantastic welcome addition to the Stampede and build healthy friendships with our local communities.
This year we rented several Tipi’s to populate the Gathering area. The Valley Agricultural Society is having two 16 foot Tipi’s being made and painted to reflect the Southern Manitoba area and will be on display for 2018. The Village area has also been expanded this fall to accommodate more room for more indigenous events such as large POW WOW’s and Indigenous art exhibits. These main tipi’s for future years and will be surround with other sizes and types of Tipi’s.
It is our intention to add to the village every year and work with our Indigenous First Nations communities making connections and building positive relationships in friendship for years to come.
James Buhler
VAS Fair Director
Home of the Manitoba Stampede
Photo credit; Barbara Shewchuk
