Indian Relay Races: Lethbridge News Now

By Lara Fominoff

First Nations

City Council approves monetary request for Powwow and Indian Relay Races

Apr 16, 2019 | 11:37 AM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – In a unanimous vote, Lethbridge City Council has approved $47,500 be taken from the Major Community Events Hosting budget for the Sik-Ooh-Kotoki Friendship Society, as it hosts the National Association of Friendship Centres Annual General Meeting.

The money will go in part, towards a two-day Powwow and Indian Relay Races, to be hosted July 16 and 17. The National Association of Friendship Centres, made up of 121 organizations across the country, is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.

Sik-Ooh-Kotoki Friendship Society Executive Director Travis Plaited Hair thanked City Council and citizens for supporting the event, which he says will bring hundreds of delegates to Lethbridge.

“So, we’re anticipating over 600-700 hundred delegates for the meetings alone. And then you throw in the Indian Relay Race, which is going to bring in thousands. And then you add the Powwow to that, you’ll be bringing in even more than that coming in.”

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The benefits Plaited Hair explains, are not just economic for the city, so many different cultures and representatives coming together.

“With this whole reconciliation, the City has really taken a lead in that work. I’m part of the Reconciliation Committee here at the City of Lethbridge and just bringing that amount of people right across Canada and into the United States – that’s something to be proud of.”

The group also applied for funding through the provincial and federal governments and will receive more than $56,000 from the province. But it could be a couple of weeks before they hear from the federal government about their application for a nearly $67,000 Heritage Grant.

Total cost of the event is expected to be about $176,000.

“If we’re fortunate enough to get some federal funding, it will be awesome, too and whatever we can’t use obviously, we’ll have to return, but it will just make our committees a little more worry free when they’re doing their work,” says Plaited Hair.

Another $40,000 in expenses has also been listed not included in the budget mentioned above, that will be covered by Sik-Ooh-Kotoki and the National Association of Friendship Societies.

He adds that council has generally been very supportive of the Friendship Centre’s efforts, and that the expected economic benefit to the city will be nearly $1.1 million.

“I think they realize and understand that this event is a fairly large event, and it’s going to make a big impact in the local community.”

The Powwow and Indian Relay Races will also be open to the public.