The Calgary Stampede is known as the greatest outdoor show for a reason. It showcases the western heritage of Alberta, including First Nations People of Treaty 7. In this article, Hans Tammemagi shares what visitors can expect to experience from Indigenous culture at the 2024 Calgary Stampede.
What’s not to love about the Calgary Stampede? After all, it’s the “Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth,” drawing more than one million visitors to Alberta annually. Downtown Calgary buzzes with crowds, and you can gorge yourself on free pancake breakfasts at Stampede Park and throughout the city.
On Friday, July 5, I will cram in amongst the throngs to watch the mammoth parade of floats, bands, clowns, horses and Indigenous peoples in full regalia that kicks off the Stampede’s annual festival in July. The parade is led by the Parade Marshal and joined by Stampede Royalty, consisting of the 2024 First Nations Princess, Margaret Holoway, representing the Stoney Nakoda First Nation, and the 2024 Stampede Princess, Brooke Fielding.
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The Stampede Rodeo at GMC Stadium throbs with excitement for world-class chuckwagon racing, barrel racing, tie-down roping, steer wrestling, bronc and bull riding and more. To calm down, I head to the agricultural fair and soothingly pet furry farm animals. For sheer fun, I’m drawn to the huge midway with a multitude of rides, booths and all sorts of treats to eat. Try as I might, the mechanical bull always throws me off after only a few moments.
Invariably, however, I wind up at the 16-acre Elbow River Camp, for the Stampede is one of Canada’s biggest and best showcases for Indigenous culture, and I love to immerse myself in it.
Indigenous Heritage at the Stampede’s Elbow River Camp
First Nations People of Treaty 7 have been an integral part of the Calgary Stampede since its start in 1912, and this honoured relationship continues today.
About 1,800 Indigenous peoples seized the opportunity to travel to Calgary and take part in the festivities. They were an instant hit as they walked in the parade, rode horses in the rodeo and set up tipis. To cap it off, Tom Three Persons of the Kainai Nation captured the title of World Champion Cowboy by riding the much-feared bronco, Cyclone, to a standstill.
At the 26-tipi Elbow River Camp, Indigenous programs and demonstrations take place virtually non-stop. The First Nations members of Treaty 7, represented by the Stoney Nakoda, Kainai, Siksika, Piikani and Tsuu t’ina, set up camp, dress in traditional regalia and conduct numerous daily performances including powwow demonstrations and cultural demonstrations.
The Elbow River Camp is far more than a cultural display; it is a way of life where traditional values are passed down from generation to generation. Many families have been coming to the Camp since its inception. Elders, who have been participating since they were babies, bring their children and grandchildren to live in the Camp for the annual festival in July. The families all know each other and there is an atmosphere of warm, friendly camaraderie.
Interpreters wearing red vests guide visitors though Elbow River Camp and explain and demonstrate making bannock, pemmican and berry soup, raising tipis and much more. For example, they explain the importance of tipi designs and how they are determined by dreams and are transferred by ceremony. Several of the tipi designs have been present for all 112 years of the Camp. There is also a daily tipi-raising contest.
Celebrating Generations of Indigenous Culture at this Canadian Exhibition
I spoke with Margaret Holloway, the First Nations Princess for 2024, who described her experience as a long-time participant. “I’ve been to every Stampede for all my life (22 years), staying at my parents’ Tipi 24, which has been in the family since the Stampede began in 1912.”
“I’ve got friends I’ve known since birth, everybody in Elbow River Camp is like family. I love dancing and sharing our culture with the world. I encourage all visitors to come down to Elbow River Camp. The people are nice and always happy to share the culture.”
Margaret is the granddaughter of long-time respected Elders and Tipi Holders, Eddie and Elsie Holloway. Princess Margaret is steeped in Indigenous culture. Her mother taught her sewing and beadwork at an early age, and Princess Margaret designs and makes most of her dance regalia. She adores the Jingle Dance because it is a prayer or medicine dance to help heal sick people. She was one of the first women to perform the Hoop Dance, previously danced mostly by men.
Indigenous Events and Competitions to Watch Out For
One of the most popular attractions is the Stampede Powwow, an enormous dance competition attracting the best First Nations dancers from across North America. They compete for tens of thousands of dollars in prize money.
The stage is a flurry of colourful feathers, buckskin and beads as the contestants perform. Dances include the Women’s Fancy, Men’s Fancy, Women’s Traditional, Men’s Traditional, Women’s Jingle, Men’s Buckskin, Men’s Chicken Dance, and Men’s Grass. The furious beat of drums echoes in the Saddledome. The dancers’ regalia — all hand-made — is splendid, like a moving kaleidoscope on the dance floor.
Hungry visitors head to the Bannock Booth, which serves up delicacies like a Bannock breakfast sandwich, plain Bannock with jam or cheese, Bannock burgers and Bannock tacos. Local artisans offer handicrafts such as jewelry, art and beadwork.
Indigenous presence at the Stampede has expanded in recent years and now forms part of every program, from the Stampede Parade to the Rodeo to the Grandstand show.
At the Evening Show, the First Nations Relay Race was introduced in 2017 and immediately became a crowd favorite. One rider per team rides bareback three loops around the track, each time on a different horse. At the exchanges the rider hops off, and then onto another powerful horse with no saddle and gallops off at breakneck speed. In 2023, the women’s single lap race was added, giving Indigenous women an opportunity to compete in a bareback race.
At night-time, the Grandstand Show, one of the high points of the Stampede, explodes with colourful strobe lights, spectacular stunts, live music performances and pyrotechnics shooting into the sky.
Back at the Elbow River Camp, the sun shines on tall Tipis, happy crowds watch dancers bedecked in colorful regalia and Elders proudly show their traditions to the world.
First Nations People of Treaty 7 continue to be an integral part of the Calgary Stampede. Pity it only lasts ten days.
Hans’ writing is eclectic including travel, environment, Indigenous culture and things quirky. He has penned 10 books including one national best seller. Hans writes for Canadian Geographic, Westworld, Ensemble, Zoomer, British Columbia magazine, Explore, Northwest Travel, Canada’s History, the Globe and Mail and the Vancouver Sun. A member of the Society of Environmental Journalists and former adjunct professor, he has a strong affinity for the environment around us. He lives in the Gulf Islands where he enjoys kayaking and photography.