The Calgary Stampede

1912 was the first Calgary Stampede...It featured cowboys and cowgirls, rodeo riding, vaudeville acts, and the parade with Native Indians in full ceremonial dress.

The first Stampede only lasted six days and had approximately 1800 native in attendance.

1923 The Stampede became an annual event in July. The Treaty no. 7 indian tribes were asked to participate and located their tipi's by the entrance to Sun Tree Park. Now known today as Indian Village.

In 1950 A misunderstanding concerning the way the Indian Village was to be run caused the Stoney’s to boycott the Stampede. At this time there were 30 teepees – 10 from each Siksika, Stoney and Tsuu T’ina.

The Blood and Peigan's were not officially part of the Village during much of the 1950’s. The 10 Stoney teepees were probably not missed too much because of the torrential rainstorms, which caused many problems with all the events.

The rain was so bad in fact, that the media ran stories about the Stoney “rain dances”. The misunderstanding was cleared up after Stampede and the Stoney natives returned with their usual 10 teepees for the 1951 event.

As the years progress, Our participation with the Calgary Stampede has been instrumental in educating its visitors to the culture of the plains First Nations people.