Walking in 2 worlds: Dakota Nation Winterfest showcases culture and sports

Darian Brown is living and competing in two worlds this weekend — powwow and hockey.

Brown, 25, is among those gathered this week in Brandon, Man., for Dakota Nation Winterfest, the annual celebration of Indigenous culture and sports hosted by Sioux Valley Dakota Nation.

On Friday night, the men's fancy dancer participated in the grand entry for the Winterfest powwow, before rushing to the ice rink an hour later to compete in seniors hockey at Brandon's Keystone Centre.

"Every year … just gets better and better," he said. "It's a time away from, like, work … [and] stress in general."

The four-day event, running from Thursday to Sunday, includes traditional activities like powwow and jigging, sports tournaments and a trade show, all designed to help people get active at the height of winter.

Brown has been coming to Winterfest since he was born, and hockey and powwow are intertwined for him.  

Winterfest is an important opportunity for youth to demonstrate their skills in the powwow arena or on the ice, where they can "showcase their skill, their speed – you know, their playmaking ability," Brown said. 

Sioux Valley Dakota Nation Chief Vince Tacan says Winterfest brings communities together and offers "a mental health break ... for  our people."

Events like Winterfest and Sioux Valley's annual summer powwow are times when the community can come together, Tacan said, but he'd like to see even more opportunities to do so.

"It's difficult to keep the morale of the community up.… There's a lot of challenges in our First Nations," Tacan said. 

"This  weekend gives us an opportunity to forget some of those challenges and just focus on showcasing the culture and the athleticism that the kids have, and the adults."

Sioux Valley's chief and council are trying to inspire youth to embrace both sports and culture, Tacan said. Luckily, the community has inspiration in hometown NHL hero Zach Whitecloud, who took home the Stanley Cup with the Las Vegas Golden Knights last season.

That victory is showing younger people that hard work, a good work ethic and commitment are qualities that can help them succeed on the ice and beyond, Tacan said. 

"Those are the things we want to promote in our community for our young people so that ... we can fill the roles that we need," he said.

Winterfest promotes First Nations athletes who sometimes don't have a chance to showcase their skills elsewhere, Tacan said. 

That means it's important for chiefs and councils to make sure youth have the means to get to Winterfest, he said.

"I think there's a lot more talent out there that's yet to be discovered."

In addition to the sports events, Winterfest highlights cultural celebrations, including the powwow.

That's something that people need to return to, said Tacan, because there is a distinct culture that includes ceremonies and songs that can be shared.

"It's something that gives kids an alternative," he said.

"Just like sports — if the kids can see that there are other activities to be involved in … I think we'll be better off," Tacan said, which is why it's important "to help facilitate that and push those kids in that direction."

Logan Taylor, a 19-year-old from Sioux Valley, has been coming to Winterfest for as long as he can remember. 

Taylor, who has played in past Winterfest hockey tournaments, was there this weekend to dance and watch others hit the ice.

This year, his focus is on competing in the men's fancy dance competition at the powwow.

"It's a good environment," said Taylor, adding the powwow offers a chance for self-expression through unique outfits and different approaches to dance style.

While Winterfest offers competition, "I like it because it keeps the culture together," and offers both sports and cultural experiences, he said.

"We get to visit and go from one to the other."