The Athabasca Tribal Council Cultural Festival, presented by Centerfire hosts 10,000 attendees
(Fort McMurray Wood Buffalo, AB, Treaty 8 – September 21, 2023) The 2023 Athabasca Tribal Council (ATC) Cultural Festival presented by Centerfire continues on the success of the previous years.
Showcasing the Cree, Dene and Métis communities of the region, the Festival welcomed at least 10,000 attendees over four days.
“Seeing the community gather to celebrate our Cree, Dene, and Métis cultures is what the Festival is all about. Healing comes in so many ways. Feeling the support from friends and allies who attended the Festival brings with it a strength that is felt by our members,” said Chief Allan Adam, President of the Athabasca Tribal Council and Chief of the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation. “I want to thank our presenting partner, Centerfire, for recognizing the Festival's importance to the Indigenous communities' wellbeing.”
Chief Adam continued, “It is critical, in light of the current mental health and addictions crisis that ATC communities are facing, that we focus on rebuilding our culture and language, and ensuring that we have a connection to our land. Connecting our youth back to the land, culture, and the Elders' teachings is what will heal communities going forward.”
The Festival started in a good way with a Pipe Ceremony on Thursday, September 14, 2023, with Elders from across the region.
Over 700 students from both urban and rural areas of the region participated in the Education Program presented by Tuccaro on Thursday and Friday.
Friday evening on the Mainstage, presented by Imperial, attendees were treated to an inaugural Fashion Show, Hoop Dancing, Inuit Throat Singers, and Powwow Dancing. The night ended with a Round Dance and Tea Dance.
Saturday night on the Imperial Mainstage had local Indigenous bands take the stage with headliner C-WEED.
Friday, Saturday, and Sunday of the Festival continued on with community members from all five First Nations welcoming festival goers to the Traditional Village presented by Fort McKay First Nation. The communities donated traditional food, and skilled members butchered, prepared, preserved, and cooked delicious samples for all attendees to try.
The Feasts were served in the larger Gathering Tent that seated nearly 500 people. Much of the tent infrastructure was provided by Festival partner Encore Tents YMM.
“Gathering as a community to share food and a meal is an important part of Cree, Dene and Métis cultures and part of the healing all ATC communities are engaging in right now,” said Karla Buffalo, CEO of the Athabasca Tribal Council. “I want to thank Encore Tents YMM for realizing how important creating gathering spaces is to the Festival and providing so much gift-in-kind support to making this Festival a success.”
Perhaps the biggest entertainment event during the Festival was the Hand Games Tournament presented by Acden. With 16 teams this year, the Tournament doubled in size from 2022. Loud, and full of lots of action, the tournament had everyone from the Elders to the children involved in cheering!
The ATC Cultural Festival, presented by Centerfire has always made sure that Elders from all Indigenous communities in the region feel honoured and are cared for at the Festival. This year Bouchier partnered with ATC to provide the Elders’ Programming. This included an Elders Tent complete with comfortable seating to watch all the activities and entertainment. Programming in the Elders tent was made up of traditional crafts, Bingo hosted by Fort McMurray 468 First Nation, and a Crib Tournament hosted by RMWB Councillor Jane Stroud.
One of the most important pieces of the Festival is Indigenous artists hosting workshops, sharing and teaching their traditional skills. The call for artists happened earlier in the year and had 32 artists to provide 75 Workshops with the support of partner Mikisew Cree First Nation. The ATC Cultural Festival presented by Centerfire was ecstatic to see the interest in the Workshops, with many classes selling out within a few hours of being released.
The Gift Shop & Gallery presented by Fort McMurray Wood Buffalo Economic and Tourism was open daily. Products were on display from 63 Indigenous artists and entrepreneurs. The total number of items sold was 1,316, with a revenue of over $62,000 going directly back to the artists, contributing to the economic reconciliation of Indigenous entrepreneurs.
Throughout the Festival, the Youth Programming presented by CNRL was a big hit! With traditional craft activities, balloons and face-painters, along with a canoe photobooth from McMurray Métis, and Fur Trading teachings with Willow Lake Métis, there was something for families of all age groups to enjoy.
The ATC Cultural Festival, presented by Centerfire would not be possible without the support of the hundreds of community Volunteers that were supported by Fort McKay Group of Companies. The Festival, with the help of FuseSocial and the NorthStar Ford Wood Buffalo Volunteer Centre, recruited nearly 200 volunteers to fill a variety of roles, each crucial to the success of the Festival. We thank each and every volunteer for the time and effort in creating this community event that is the pride of the region and the Indigenous community. It is a large step toward continued healing and reconciliation for all communities in the region.
The ATC Cultural Festival 2023 was supported by 71 partners, many of whom are members of the Northeastern Alberta Aboriginal Business Association (NAABA), with 18 of those partnerships being gift-in-kind for services, equipment, labour, or volunteers. ATC appreciates the contributions of each partnership, big or small because they all helped ATC achieve this successful community event once again.
ATC is excited for the 2024 edition of the ATC Cultural Festival and looks forward to connecting with partners, communities, suppliers, vendors and volunteers soon to start planning.
For more information about the festival visit www.atcculturalfestival.ca.
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For more information or media inquiries:
Karla Buffalo
Chief Executive Officer
Athabasca Tribal Council
karla.buffalo@atcfn.ca | 780-791-6538