Tribal Days move from Brandon to Winnipeg

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The Stanley Cup of Native hockey is getting a new home now that Winter Tribal Days is moving to Winnipeg.

The annual senior hockey tournament which attracts teams from all over the country and all the other activities associated with the Dakota Ojibway Tribal Council's annual three-day winter celebration will be better and bigger in 1999, organizers say.

The City of Winnipeg is putting out the welcome mat for the event and the $3 million a year worth of economic benefits that come with it.

The 1998 version of the multi-faceted Aboriginal sports and cultural event has been cancelled because of the move, but Ken McKay, a council employee, said the 1999 tribal days will be able to grow both in size and in prominence.

"It's mostly accommodations. We had teams from the Yukon and near James Bay that wanted to come in for our senior hockey tournament but there was nowhere to stay. Too many people were competing for the same rooms," he said. "The people who have been coming back year after year know to book their rooms for next year before they leave. In Winnipeg, there'll be more accommodations and, because the city and the provincial offices are there, there'll be more opportunity for support and sponsorships."

McKay believes the media attention in the provincial capital will be greater and will lead to greater corporate support and bigger crowds. Winter Tribal Days features a wide range of activities for all members of the family. The 16 separate events include a square dance competition, boxing matches, a competitive powwow and other cultural displays.

Tribal council officials and representatives of the city council are negotiating this month, attempting to bang out a deal that will see the city recognize the contribution to the local economy that the Winter Tribal Days will make. McKay said any deal will be better than what the tribal council had with the City of Brandon.

"They were giving us $500 a year in support and we were bringing about $3 million a year into the city," he said.