Indian Relay Races part of this year's Kamloopa Pow Wow for first time

Professional horseback riders will kick up the dust and wow crowds in Kamloops late next month with Indian Relay races and bull riding shows. Kamloopa Indian Days is a new addition to the famous Kamloopa Pow Wow that draws hundreds of visitors to the Tournament Capital every year. “We formed a new committee for the pow wow and wanted to get more options to grow it,” said director with Kamloopa Pow Wow Society, Colin Stonechild. “It’s a great opportunity for us as Indigenous people to showcase Kamloopa.” The fast-paced family-friendly show will include competitions among top international bull riders with Bull Riders of Canada Inc https://www.facebook.com/BullRidersCanada/photos_by . Teams from the Elite Indian Relay Association https://www.facebook.com/people/Elite-Indian-Relay-Association/100066682473572/ will compete in Indian Relay, traditional Indigenous bare-back horse races that include high speed galloping and riders switching from one horse to another between laps.  “There aren’t a lot of relay riders here so we’re hoping to spark the interest of kids in the community,” Stonechild said. He said several people and associations have come together to build and grow this year’s new events including Kamloops Race Central, Canadian Cowboy Association, Tourism Kamloops, the City of Kamloops and the Chief from Whispering Pines. “Many people worked together and all of the planets aligned to give us these new opportunities.” Stonechild said the dates for the annual pow wow have moved ahead this year to reduce the risk of heat and wildfire smoke. The society doubled its prize money and is expanding the crafts and vendors section at Moccasin Square Gardens on the Tk'emlúps te Secwépemc reserve. “Everyone is welcome to come and share, as Secwépemc people we’re just being good hosts and showcasing the community of Tk'emlúps and Kamloops.” READ MORE: Family of missing Merritt murder victim overwhelmed with rumours, questions https://infotel.ca/newsitem/family-of-missing-merritt-murder-victim-overwhelmed-with-rumours-questions/it104624 The 43rd annual Kamloopa Pow Wow runs for three days from June 28 to 30. The Kamloopa Indian Days will run on June 28 and 29 at Kamloops Race Central at 485 Mount Paul Centre Way.  Tickets are available for Kamloopa Indian Days here https://www.ykanow.ca/tickets/  or can be purchased at The Horse Barn at 517 Mount Paul Centre Way. The society will be adding more details on the pow wow event schedule on their website https://tkemlups.ca/kamloopa-powwow/ as the big celebration approaches. To contact a reporter for this story, email Shannon Ainslie mailto:sainslie@infonews.ca  or call 250-819-6089 or email the editor mailto:news@infonews.ca . You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom mailto:tips@infonews.ca  and be entered to win a monthly prize draw. We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above. SUBSCRIBE to our awesome newsletter here https://infotel.ca/newsletter .