As well as finding the best sushi and restaurants in the Exchange District and exploring the St. Boniface French quarter, a unique Winnipeg vacation idea is to check out the aboriginal pow wow competition that takes place each November.
Manito Ahbee International Competition Pow Wow is an aboriginal gathering of many First Nations to compete in pow wow dancing. The best part for travellers? It’s open to the public.
MTS Centre, Winnipeg
Housed in the MTS Centre (also the home to the Manitoba Moose, farm team to the Vancouver Canucks hockey team), this large arena is transformed into a gathering place for First Nations people to visit with each other, catch up with friends and family, and cheer on the pow wow dancers as they compete for cash.
Pow Wow Dancing and Drumming
There are different dance categories that men and women compete in. From traditional, grass dance and chicken to fancy and jingle dress, be prepared to see some extraordinary regalia, most handmade by family members of the dancers and some passed down from one generation to the next.
Notice the circles of men around a drum, usually with crowds surrounding them taking pictures and videos. Each group take turns playing the drums for each dance. Note that, although there is much photo-taking, it is important to ask dancers if you can take pictures of their regalia before doing so.
For a break from the dancing, take a walk around MTS Centre to check out the Indigenous Marketplace and Tradeshow. There are tons of interesting tables and many original gift ideas to take home to friends and family.
Winnipeg Events
There are also some fantastic opportunities to head to the special events that are part of Manito Ahbee. Probably the star of the show is the Aboriginal People’s Choice Music Awards, featuring big names like Sierra Noble, Buffy Saint-Marie and Charlie Major. Also, don’t miss the red carpet entrance beforehand.
On the first evening, there’s an awards show that honours categories such as Best Aboriginal Music Radio Station Program, Best Hand Drum CD and Best Peyote CD. Make sure to check the Manito Ahbee website for the most up-to-date performers, dates and ticket prices.
Winnipeg Hotels
For Manito Ahbee, the most convenient Winnipeg Hotel is the Delta Winnipeg (350 St. Mary Avenue, 204-942-0551 / 1-800-268-1133), two blocks away from MTS Centre. 393 guest rooms are available, the largest in the city, from king and queen beds to Jacuzzi and premier rooms.
The indoor pool, which is part of the Odyssey Health Club, is particularly nice. There is also a seasonal outdoor pool, fitness centre, a whirlpool, toddler pool and sauna. To see other downtown attractions, there is a shuttle available for guests from 7:30 am to 9:30 am.
Winnipeg Travel
For more information about travelling to Winnipeg, Manitoba, contact Tourism Winnipeg (204-943-1970 / 1-800-665-0204).
Lori Henry - A travel writer, Lori flits between exploring the world with incessant curiosity and huddling over her laptop writing.
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