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Pow Wow Days tradition continues this weekend

Months of preparation layered on years of tradition will be on display this weekend as the Lac La Biche region celebrates its long-standing summer celebration Pow Wow Days.
LLB 07 10 POW WOW 01

Months of preparation layered on years of tradition will be on display this weekend as the Lac La Biche region celebrates its long-standing summer celebration Pow Wow Days.

Organizers say the plans have come together — but admit that with any large scale planning, there’s always room for changes and last-minute additions.

“We’ve worked really hard to get this year’s version of this great community event rolled out,” said Pow Wow Association president Brian Axenchuk. “It’s been a group effort with some very-much appreciated community support and assistance from people who want to get involved."

One gleaming example of that community connection has taken place with the prizes collected for the Children’s Fish Derby. In order to make sure that every young angler leaves with a prize, several  Individuals from the community have stepped up to the plate.

"Individuals have been donating. And that is true community spirit,” says Axenchuk. “They don’t want to see any child go home without a prize."

Children’s fish derby sponsors include Monica Smith,  Neil Tim, Victor Touant, Rick Letki, Shelly Williams,  Jason Stedman,  Sterling Johnson and every board member on the Pow Wow Days Association. The local Bargain Shop has also offered donation support to the little derby.

Lake life

This year’s Pow Wow Days event runs two weeks earlier than it has in past years, a change that organizers say was to breathe new life into the event and to take advantage of early summer water conditions.

“We wanted to bring the fish derby back to Lac La Biche lake and we wanted a lake-based theme this year, so we knew early on in the planning that we wanted good, clear water and we didn’t want to worry about any late-season algae blooms,” Axenchuk said.

The waters of Lac la Biche lake are regularly affected by blue green algae blooms in the late summer months. The algae causes swimming and fishing advisories to be issued by Alberta Health Services. Pow Wow organizers said they didn’t want anything getting in the way of a good time.

“We are surrounded by lakes. The theme of the parade is ‘Celebrating Our Lakes”, and we have a number of events like our boat parade, and watersport demonstrations and rentals — and of course Sunday’s fish derby,  that are all on the lake,” Axenchuk said. “It’s what we are known for."

The area is also known for hosting a great celebration. And through the three-day event, starting with Thursday night’s community fish fry and sneak-peak Midway night to Friday’s downtown parade and the horse cavalry from the Lord Strathcona’s mounted troop, to Saturday and Sunday’s Indigenous Awareness Centre presentation and performances, to the children’s fish derby, Homemade Jam, Beerfest, fish derbies and Sunday night’s fireworks ... the tradition continues.

Still time to support

“There’s a lot to do,” says Pow Wow Association director Chris Wolstenholme. As the director for this year’s parade, he says entries have been steady, and some are still trickling in even as the clock ticks down to Friday’s 11 am start.  “It’s Lac La Biche. You know.  Last minute,” he said with a grin.

And with just days to go before this year’s Pow Wow Days begins, organizers are trying to embrace that last-minute challenge that comes with planning a big event.

“Of course, we’ll take some last minute entries. We never say no,” says director Lavon Fleming, before adding with a laugh,  “Of course, we also wouldn’t say no to some last minute volunteers or last minute sponsors."

There was some last-minute good news given to the organizers at the end of last week, as they welcomed Swamp Cats as a major sponsor.

Another last minute addition is the creation of an extra category in the Citizen of the Year award.  While there will be one Citizen of the Year officially announced at the seniors’ fish fry on Thursday night, the association will also announce a Senior Citizen of the Year.

“It’s a great community full of very supportive people, so we though we should honour that tradition,” said Axenchuk. “It’s another  nice, new addition to the tradition of Pow Wow Days."

For a complete schedule of events, see the online program at www.laclabichepost.com. The printed version of this year’s Pow Wow Days program is an insert in this week’s Lac La Biche POST. The program will also be available at the Lac La Biche Recreation Grounds admission gates starting Friday. For more information on specific Pow Wow Days topics, the association has a direct email link for inquiries. [email protected].  The association also has a Facebook page that is updated regularly. Links to Pow Wow Days events can also be found through the digital links of this story at www.laclabichepost.com

Entry Rates for Pow Wow Days 2018

FREE Admission: Main Grounds Gates

FREE Admission: Children’s Fish Derby at Hamilton Park

FREE Admission Lord Strathcona’s military horse demonstration at LLB Ag Grounds

FREE Admission: Boat Parade

$5/ plate:  Daily Pancake Breakfasts

$5/person: Talent Show and Homemade Jam

$10/plate: Community Fish Fry

$2 or 3 for $5: Pow Wow Days 50/50 tickets

$20/ person: Wakeboard Competition

$75/person: Sunday Fish Derby

$100/Team: Team Events Challenges & Games


Rob McKinley

About the Author: Rob McKinley

Rob has been in the media, marketing and promotion business for 30 years, working in the public sector, as well as media outlets in major metropolitan markets, smaller rural communities and Indigenous-focused settings.
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