Each year since inception, the Elbow River Camp is set up in the heart of the Calgary Stampede grounds. All five nations of the Treaty 7 First Nations are represented, from the Blackfoot Confederacy, made up of Siksika, Kainai, and Piikani, Stoney Nakoda, made up of Bearspaw, Chiniki, and Goodstoney, and Tsuut’ina.
Amber Big Plume and Daanis Dameria were our interpretive guides through the camp. I learned so much about the history of the First Nations and the Calgary Stampede. The first Calgary Stampede in 1912 was the first time First Nations tribes were allowed to leave their reservations and perform in a traditional way in colonized Canada. The interpretative guides are not just tour guides, but demonstrators with vast cultural knowledge. They took us through a traditional tea ceremony with fry bannock bread and Saskatoon berries. We also saw traditional dancing and cooking techniques throughout the tour.
26 tipis are set up at Elbow River Camp, many of which have been passed down through generations since the beginning of the stampede. Usually, tipi designs come in dreams and a person has to be very special to get one dedicated to them. I also learned that you never stand directly in front of a tipi. Go in on the left, and continue left as you move inside.
On July 12-13, Powwow takes place in the Saddledome on the last two days of Stampede. Tribes come from all over North America to compete in Indigenous dancing, drumming and singing. After Elbow River Camp, I headed over for the official Barn tour with Kirk Moore, a volunteer with the Chuckwagon Committee.
From first glance, chuck wagons may seem old timey and unsophisticated, but they are top of the line, over engineered masterpieces. Specifications for racing chuckwagons are as rigorous as Nascar, including frame, size, weight and wheels. They even use high end thoroughbred horses to pull the wagons around the Stampede track.
After learning the ins and outs of chuckwagon racing, I got to meet chuckwagon driver Colby Stanley, winner of the Bruce Bremmner Award for the most consistent barreling outfit. Barreling, a term unique to chuckwagon racing, refers to the part of the race where riders chuck barrels onto the wagon as they “break camp” before the wheels start moving.
After the barn tour, I had the opportunity to speak to Kristina Barnes, Director of Agriculture and Western Events at the Stampede and Jennifer Woods, animal care specialist. Curious about how the welfare of the animals is maintained throughout the Stampede, I learned about the Stampede’s ongoing relationship with the Humane Society where they are granted open access to the grounds of the festival throughout the entire eleven day event.
They have credentialed investigators onsite to ensure correct treatment, as well as at least 10 veterinarians at all times. Throughout the Stampede, they estimate about 17,000 vet inspections are done. They also do randomized drug testing of animals and riders each day throughout the event.
In the late afternoon, I took the Westjet Sky Ride (a ski lift) across the park for some fun aerial shots of the entire park.
For dinner, I enjoyed one of the Stampede’s premium experiences: dinner and the rodeo at Lazy S restaurant with covered grandstand views of the evening events. The menu is classic steakhouse: I enjoyed my Caesar salad, steak and caramel injected cheesecake As we ate, we watched the chuckwagon and relay races from our seats at the restaurant.
After the races, I closed the evening with Jason Isbell at the Four Roadhouse. He took the stage around 10pm in a traditional white cowboy hat that was presented to him before the show by the Stampede. He put on an amazing show, to the point that the whole band was seemed like they were having the time of their lives and he commented on how welcomed he felt.
I always love hearing one of my all-time favorite songs, “24 Frames”, live, and it was amazing with the full band. The crowd was dancing to every song, and he finished the night with his recent single “Bury Me” as his encore.
After the show, I took a convenient stampede courtesy car ride to the top of the hill overlooking the stampede stadium. I wanted that perfect birds-eye view of the daily magnificent fireworks display for the perfect ending to my third day of stampede adventures.