Manito Ahbee, which is Ojibway for "where the Creator sits," is one of the largest annual gatherings of Indigenous Peoples on Turtle Island.
This year the 19th annual four-day festival (May 17-20, 2024) takes place at Red River Exhibition Park on Treaty No. 1 Territory, the ancestral and current-day lands and waters of the Anishinaabek (Ojibway), Nehiyaw (Cree), Anishininew (Oji-Cree), Dakota, and Denesuline Peoples, the heartland of the Red River Métis and home to many Inuit.
The festival features Nations from across the continent, coming together to gather, celebrate and socialize.
One of the world’s largest Pow Wows will take place May 17-19, where people from different Nations will showcase their talents and passion in the form of Traditional, Grass, Jingle and Fancy Shawl dances. For the sporty types, there will be events like 5-on-5 basketball, a Manito Ahbee Cup Adult rec hockey tournament and the Indian Horse Relay (chances are, you’ve never seen horse racing like this). On the arts and performance side of things, The Spirit Visions 48-hour film challenge is back again this year, and countless acts on the Ignite Our Spirit Performance Stage that are sure to grab your attention.
But it doesn’t stop there. On Friday, May 17, two more events will take place. The NextGen celebration will be happening from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. and the Tipi raising contest will start at 3 p.m.
Plus, there’s the huge Manito Ahbee Marketplace where you can purchase a host of items from Indigenous creators like regalia, mukluks, clothing, jewellery, music, art, food and so much more. They are always adding new artisans and businesses to their marketplace lineup.
Open to all to experience, Manito Ahbee is all about educating and exposing visitors and participants to the Seven Sacred Teachings of love, respect, courage, honesty, wisdom, humility and truth.
Here's just a few things to know before you go, along with some tips on some must-see experiences.
Opening day
The best way to kick-off your Manito Ahbee experience is at the Lighting of the Sacred Fire (Friday, May 17 at Red River Exhibition Park). During this free family event, you'll witness delegates, Elders and dignitaries from around the world come together to make a tobacco offering to the fire before participating in a pipe ceremony and the blessing of the hand drums.
Know before you go (particularly when it comes to the Pow Wow)
Manito Ahbee’s International Pow Wow starts Friday night at 7 p.m. in Red River Exhibition Park. It is traditionally the largest Pow Wow in Canada and the second largest in North America, with over 800 dancers and drum groups in attendance. The colourful regalia of the dancers is truly remarkable, while experiencing drum groups in person can be a transformative – it's so incredibly powerful.
This is a sacred event, so if you are new to Pow Wows here’s some etiquette guidelines, covering aspects like how you must ask to take pictures of participants, how you should never touch eagle feathers or regalia, and when you must stand.
This year there is a wide range of dance categories, which you can watch via live stream on powwows.com.
More spectator opportunities
Along with all the amazing regalia and styles during the Pow Wow, Manito Ahbee’s Ignite Our Spirit Performance Stage will be the place to see so many exciting shows. This includes the “Treaty 2 Got Talent” contest, with performances like jigging groups, musical entertainment and Inuit and Dene cultural performances on the stage all weekend long.
The Red Road Cultural Clothing Wearable Art and Showcase is back after a successful debut last year. Get to know the designers and their runway-worthy creations on Saturday, May 18 from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Tickets and more info
Perhaps the most important thing to know about Manito Ahbee is that it’s open to everyone, promoting the unity of all nations on Turtle Island. You don't have to be Indigenous to attend any of the events, and it is a great way to learn about customs and histories from Indigenous cultures across the continent. In fact, you are encouraged to ask questions, as Manito Ahbee is all about the sharing of cultures.
The festival also continues to strive to be more sustainable each year.
Tickets can be purchased online, on site, or pre-purchased at the Centennial Concert Hall box office. Single-day passes are $16.75 per day, while a three-day pass is just $38.75. They also have family packs, and kids five-and-under are free!
Here are the full ticket details while you can also follow Manito Ahbee on Instagram for updates and more.
Indigenous experiences in Winnipeg
Looking to support local Indigenous businesses and learn more about Indigenous culture while you’re in Winnipeg? Check out our list of Indigenous Experiences featuring a variety of sites full of Indigenous stories and culture. Some of our articles on Peg City Grub feature a number of Cree, Ojibway and Métis owned-and-operated spots, along with a food truck and gourmet food service too.
