Source: SVDN Article by Bryden Speiss - On February 7, 2025
For over 25 years, Sioux Valley Dakota Nation has hosted the Dakota Nation Winterfest at the Keystone Centre in Brandon, Manitoba. Excluding COVID Years, this would mark the 25th annual event, which has seen various iterations over the decades. As times have changed, Winterfest has often changed with it, but at its core, Winterfest has always been a Hockey tournament first and foremost. Winterfest 2025 was a scaled-back event, hosting Hockey, Volleyball, Basketball, Pool and BINGO.
Winterfest 2025 kicked off on Thursday, January 30th, with many of our first rounds of Hockey taking place. Continuing on throughout the weekend, Winterfest ramped up the sports at both the Keystone Centre and Brandon University Healthy Living Centre. Hockey continued on into its second rounds with the initial rounds of basketball, volleyball and pool getting underway. Friday evenings Meet & Greet with SVDN Chief & Council, invited dignitaries and chiefs, such as recently elected AMC Chief Kyra Wilson, AFN National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak, Brandon Mayor Jeff Fawcett, along with event planners and organizers. Kicking off the Opening Ceremony on the main, MC Bill Taylor delivered some opening remarks, and welcomed all guests. After opening remarks, Bill introduced SVDN School grade 3 class to offer an opening prayer in the Dakota language to demonstrate the continued Dakota language within our youth. Continuing the opening ceremony, we received remarks from SVDN Chief Tacan, Chief Wilson, Chief Woodhouse Nepinak, Mayor Fawcett, Winterfest organizer Craig Beaulieu and Keystone Centre CEO & General Manager Connie Lawrence.
Saturday's Winterfest activities included performances from the Roadside Prophets, the Ivan Flett Memorial Dancers and Canada's Got Talent winner Rebecca Strong. All sports activities continued with their next rounds, with Monster BINGO coming to the Manitoba Room and former WWE superstar Tatanka coming to DNWF 2025 to take pics and sign autographs. DNWF continues to showcase Indigenous talent from all generations.
Sunday was a sports-packed day with all finals wrapping up by evening with, the final game completing around 8:30 pm. We'd like to thank all organizers, sponsors, attendees and all competing athletes for making Dakota Nation Winterfest 2025 an amazing experience filled with competitive Indigenous sports and talent. We look forward to Dakota Nation Winterfest 2026
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