First Nations Rodeo and Relay draws over 7K fans, top Indigenous rodeo athletes to Calgary

Alan Gobert won the Saddle Bronc riding race Saturday night at Stampede Park.

Over 7,000 people crowded into GMC Stadium at the Stampede Saturday night for the first-ever Calgary Stampede First Nations Rodeo and Relay.

The event brought together North America’s top Indigenous rodeo athletes and relay racing teams for a night of competition.

“This is what every little kid dreams about when they come and see these big shoots of Calgary and be able to ride here,” said Saddle Bronc winner Alan Gobert. “It’s pretty amazing.”

The event featured disciplines a visitor might normally see at the Calgary Stampede such as saddle bronc riding and steer wrestling, as well as one that’s not: the relay race.

“The relay races are a three-man team,” said Michael ‘Bo’ Vocu, the president of the Indian National Finals Rodeo. “You have two guys holding horses and one rider, and he’ll make a round around the track He’ll come and switch horses, go another round, or come and finish on his third horse, and it’s all about horsemanship, speed and athleticism.”

The seeds for the event were sown at last year’s Rotary International convention, when the Stampede staged a few relays and they were a big hit, says Kristina Barnes, the Stampede’s director of agriculture and western events.

“We don’t have the capacity to add more to Stampede time, so we thought, let’s create a standalone event,” Barnes said. “We know they love rodeo, we know our community loves relay. Let’s build it into a First Nations rodeo relay event.”

The First Nations Rodeo Association is celebrating 50 years and for some, Calgary was the best spot to mark the occasion.

“What an incredible event,” said Gobert. “The crowd here, the atmosphere was crazy. It started from the second it started till the minute it ended.”

“it’s awesome,” said Team Roping winner Jackson Louis. “I think it’s going to be good if they have it next year -- there’s nothing but good things and good vibes right now.”

One of the keys to its success is family.

“The kids are competing with mom and dad and competing with grandma and grandpa so we’re one of the only associations to do that in the whole country,” added Vocu.

Organizers say it’s important to remember who came before the Stampede was born.

“The nations of Treaty Seven gathered in this place,” said Barnes, “and I think it’s important for us to continue to celebrate that, to acknowledge it, and to bring our community together in celebration of sport and culture.”

The evening also celebrated Indigenous culture with a marketplace plus drumming and dance performances.

With files from CTV Calgary’s Amy Stalker