Dancers share excitement at Manito Ahbee Festival
Festival celebrating Indigenous arts, culture and music runs until Monday
The Manito Ahbee Festival celebrating Indigenous arts, culture and music has returned and is underway in Winnipeg.
The weekend-long event began Friday night, but on Saturday afternoon, dozens gathered for the Treaties Got Talent dance event at Red River Exhibition Park.
"There was auditions about a month ago and I got picked to come and dance here, which I am very honoured to do," said Tyasia Bitternose, from Kahkewistahaw First Nation in Saskatchewan. "Dancing is my passion and I've always loved dancing."
WATCH | Manito Ahbee Festival underway again in Winnipeg:
Bitternose said her dance represents the butterfly, its wings and how it flies.
"For us as First Nations people dancing has been a part of our lives for many many years … so it's who we are as people," said Bitternose. "We're never shy, we're never afraid to do things like this, it's what we love to do."
Nathaniel Sinclair from Pukatawagan said it feels great to up on stage. The 14-year-old also said it's exciting to perform up on the stage.
"I just like the drums and the dancing," he said. "Get to meet a lot of my people."
Kuistin Delormen, 15, also travelled from Saskatchewan to dance in Saturday's event. It was an honour for him to participate because he didn't find out until recently he'd be participating, he said.
"Just here to dance for fun and enjoy what's happening," he said.
The festival concludes Monday.
With files from Arturo Chang