Stone Pipe Days, the annual celebration to recognize the pride, history and knowledge of the Indigenous community at Lethbridge College, will take place on campus March 15 and 16, and the community is invited to join in the festivities.
In addition to showcasing drumming, dancing, singing, traditional Indigenous foods and more, this year’s celebration will include the historic signing of the Buffalo Treaty by the college.
Stone Pipe Days will run from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday, March 15, and 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Thursday, March 16, in the Val Matteotti Gymnasium.
“This is a great opportunity to continue to building awareness about our Indigenous community here on campus,” says Marni Hope, Indigenous student support and events coordinator at the college. “We welcome everyone to come and join us in the celebration.”
Stone Pipe Days will kick off with the treaty signing ceremony at 11 a.m. Wednesday. The special event will include an historic overview of the treaty by Dr. Leroy Little Bear, one of Canada’s most respected Indigenous academic voices, and that will be followed by entertainment, the serving of berry soup and bannock, and the chance to purchase creations by Indigenous craft vendors until 2 p.m.
Thursday’s events will run from 10:30 to 12:30 p.m. and will include a performance and presentation by Olivia Tailfeathers and the Kainai Grassland Singers. Tailfeathers is a songstress from the Kainai First Nation who has helped to start filling the gap of traditional/contemporary Indigenous song for students in classrooms and communities. She founded the Kainai Grassland Singers, a youth singing group, in 1994. Following her performance Thursday, participants will be invited to take an Indigenous cuisine sampler with them as they leave.
“We are proud to share and showcase the wonderful work we do here at Lethbridge College,” says Lethbridge College President and CEO Dr. Brad Donaldson. “We welcome the public to join us to witness these great events.”
A new Stone Pipe Celebration 50-50 Lottery will also be launched at noon March 15 and run through May 28, raising funds to provide financial support to Indigenous students coming to the college for the first time. The draw will be held on May 29 during the Ohkotoki’aahkkoiyiiniimaan Pow Wow that will be held at Lethbridge College. Tickets will be available starting at noon at Stone Pipe Celebration 50-50 Lottery | Rafflebox.
Learn more about the treaty here, and get all of the details of the Stone Pipe Days schedule and celebration here.