Youth rodeo kicks off annual Kainai Indian Days

Close to 200 young cowboys and cowgirls saddled up for nan 10th yearly Kainai Youth Rodeo, hosted by nan Kainaiwa Children’s Services Corporation.

Kainaiwa Children’s Services is besides known arsenic Stawatsimaani, which intends ‘raising children’ successful Blackfoot. For immoderate families who participated successful nan younker rodeo, nan arena is astir raising children to person a consciousness of organization and responsibility.

Kalib Thunder Chief is simply a begetter who didn’t hesitate to get his children progressive successful nan rodeo, arsenic he believes it will thief them build lasting relationships and important life skills.

“It gives them a consciousness of work and really to grow,” said Thunder Chief. “They’re not conscionable worried astir themselves, they’re worried astir an animal, and that animal could extremity up being their champion friend, depending connected really they return attraction of it.”

The Kainai younker rodeo celebrates a taste blend of Indigenous and rodeo. According to Blood Tribe Chief and Council personnel and Stawatsimaani committee personnel Marcel Weasel Head, it besides teaches nan children astir their heritage.

“We person kids arsenic young arsenic five, and young adults. We person a batch of contestants from nan reserve and besides from nan surrounding communities,” said Weasel Head.

“This has ever been a portion of our lifestyle; rodeo and moving pinch horses and livestock. It carries connected from procreation to generation.”

The younker rodeo sets nan reside for nan upcoming Kainai Powwow and Celebration connected Saturday, which welcomes nan nationalist to attend.