Pictured above: Bunibonibee Cree Nation Councillor Howard Grieves Jr. is presented with a cheque from Oxford House Northern store manager Bill MacLeod, used as prizes during the community’s five-day festival.

Oxford House, MB celebrated its 112th anniversary of signing onto Treaty 5, known as the Winnipeg Treaty, with a five-day festival filled with games, food, song and dance.

Many of the community’s residents were eager to stretch their legs and get out of the house for some fun during the festivities that ran from July 19 to 24, organized by Bunibonibee Cree Nation. There was no shortage of contestants eager to take part in this year’s competitions, designed to have something for everyone. From strongmen and strongwomen flipping logs as large as – if not larger than – the average adult male, to young children participating in crawl races into the arms of their parents, there were contests for each participant to show off their strengths and skills in their own special ways.

Both individual talents and team efforts were recognized, with various talent shows, dance competitions, and team sports honouring the gifts of the Oxford House community. Artisans of the community were invited to participate in a number of costume contests, along with a boat design competition on the last day of festivities, before a spectacular fireworks show on the festival’s final evening.

Oxford House Northern store was proud to support the festivities by donating $5,000 in cash, which was awarded as prizes throughout the competitions. Northern was also proud to join in on the celebrations by hosting its free barbeque on the shore, following the Canoe Races on Friday, July 23.

Pictured above: Oxford House Northern store manager Bill MacLeod serving up burgers during the after-race barbeque

“We’re proud to provide any support we can,” says Oxford House Northern store manager Bill MacLeod. “More than that, I’m just grateful that we were able to get together, while still practicing social distancing.”

These celebrations were held to honour Bunibonibee Cree Nation’s inclusion as a signatory onto Treaty 5 in 1909. The Treaty holds significance for many of the Indigenous groups living on the lands surrounding Lake Winnipeg as a historical document guaranteeing their rights to self-determination and identities as sovereign powers. For Bunibonibee Cree Nation, this means the Treaty allows them to exercise their rights in creating and upholding systems of governance reflective of their unique languages, customs, traditions and beliefs.