Dates: August 22–24, 2025
Location: Poundmaker’s Lodge Treatment Centres; St. Albert, Alberta
SAVE THE DATE: August 22, 23, and 24, 2025 – Poundmaker’s Lodge in St. Albert, Alberta, invites families and communities to gather for three days of vibrant cultural celebration, dance, healing, and shared connection.
Just outside Edmonton, Poundmaker’s Lodge Treatment Centres is a respected healing centre in Canada that provides culturally grounded resources for Indigenous wellness and recovery. Known as a spiritual home for many, the Lodge is a place where cultural revitalization, ceremony, and strength come together in powerful ways.
Whether you are seeking information, planning your visit, or looking to contact the Lodge directly, this is a space that welcomes all in the spirit of respect, learning, and tradition.
About the Event
Hosted on the sacred grounds of Poundmaker’s Lodge Treatment Centres, this annual gathering brings together nations and families in the spirit of celebration, wellness, and reconciliation. More than just a pow wow, the event integrates Plains Cree traditions with contemporary expression — offering a space where Indigenous culture is honoured and shared through ceremony, storytelling, and competitive dance.
With grand entries each day, attendees will witness powerful intergenerational expression through dance, song, and drumming. The Powwow also serves as a cultural bridge — welcoming all people to learn, reflect, and experience the beauty and strength of Indigenous life.
Why It Matters
Poundmaker’s Lodge has long stood as a place of healing and recovery rooted in Indigenous teachings. The annual Powwow reflects that mission — creating a space where cultural revitalization, celebration, and community wellness go hand in hand.
This gathering is both a spiritual homecoming and a public celebration — where healing, pride, and identity move in unison. It is a space of reconnection, and a living example of what cultural resurgence looks like on the land.
Event Highlights
📍 Where:
Poundmaker’s Lodge Treatment Centres
St. Albert, Alberta
🗓️ When:
August 22, 23 & 24, 2025
🪶 Grand Entry Times:
- Friday: 7:00 PM
- Saturday: 1:00 PM & 7:00 PM
- Sunday: 1:00 PM
💵 Drum Contest Prizes:
- 1st Place: $10,000
- 2nd Place: $8,000
- 3rd Place: $6,000
- 4th Place: $4,000
💃 Dance Categories & Prizes:
- Tiny Tots (0–6)
- Junior (7–12): $300, $200, $100, $50, $25
- Teen (13–17): $550, $400, ($300), $200, $100
- Junior Adult (18–39): $1000, $800, $600, $400, $200
- Senior Adult (40–54): $1000, $800, $600, $400, $200
- Golden Age (55+): $1000, $800, $600, $400, $200
- Buckskin: $1000, $800, $600, $400, $200
🎤 Event Team:
- Host Drum: Whitefish Jrs
- MCs: Sheldon Wuttunee & Cal Arcand
- Drum Judge: Harvey Dreaver
- Arena Director: Larson Yellowbird Sr
- Head Dance Judge: Julian Yellowbird
- Tabulators: C&T Tabulating
- Sound: Chuck Papin
⭐ Specials Include:
- Jeremy Bird Memorial
- Ironman in Full Regalia
- More TBA
Planning Your Visit
- No dogs allowed on site
- Camping available starting Thursday (camp day)
- Firewood is not provided
- Shuttle service available from Edmonton & St. Albert
For vendor applications or more information, contact:
📧 Carla Jamison, Community Engagement Officer – Carla-Jamison@poundmaker.org
Final Thoughts
The Poundmaker Lodge Pow Wow is more than an annual celebration — it is a statement of presence, pride, and healing. Set at the heart of Poundmaker’s Lodge Treatment Centres in Canada, this sacred gathering invites all to share in the living legacy of Indigenous culture. Whether you’re coming to dance, drum, connect, or simply witness, you are entering a space where tradition is alive, the spirit is strong, and community is everything. This is more than a cultural experience — it’s a return to the centre of who we are.
👉 Stay connected for updates on this and other cultural events across the country through our Indigenous Events section — your source for celebrations of Indigenous culture, community, and resurgence. For the latest news and updates on this event, please visit their official website.
