A group of revelers during a pie eating contest at a previous event. The third annual Flying Dust Winter Celebration is on now. (Submitted Photo/Shauna Kennedy)

By Julia Lovett-Squires

Winter Celebration

Flying Dust First Nation kicks off third annual Winter Celebration

Mar 22, 2024 | 6:59 AM

Festivities are underway for the third annual Flying Dust Winter Celebration.

“It was just meant to close out the winter season, get families out – like it starts getting a little nicer and we’re able to do things outside,” said Shauna Kennedy, one of the organizers and Medical Transportation Coordinator with the First Nation.

“This was after COVID where we weren’t able to get together as a community as much as we’d like and people were kind of feeling that social distance. So, it was kind of something that was important to bring everybody back together in a light, fun way, which we were missing out here.”

From humble beginnings, it grew to become an area-wide event.

“We had a really good turnout the first year within our own community and then the year after, Meadow Lake had reached out to join forces,” said Kennedy, noting it too was a success.

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Now, the First Nation is back hosting the event solo, but it is open to anyone who wishes to attend.

The four-day long event, which has already begun and will wrap up Sunday afternoon, has several events from chucksleding, trapper games, wagon rides and even skijoring.

She explained the chucksled event is like mini-chuckwagons on ice with youth.

“You kind of race around the rink and they all dress up as a team – we have best-dressed prizes – obviously it’s a race so, first, second and third for that,” she said.

“It’s very interesting to watch. The effort people put into their outfits is probably my favourite part because people get really creative.”

To get into the events except for the trapper games, buttons will be available for $5. The trapper games have a $25 registration fee.

“The button gets you into everything else, the only difference with the trapper games, it is a cash payout for every single event as well as overall King and Queen trapper winners and overall winners for the entire event and it is a point system.”

Kennedy said the celebration is all about community and the excitement is palpable.

“It’s a feel-good event, right? It’s nice to…have the communities together, it’s nice to see people get outside.”

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julia.lovettsquires@pattiosonmedia.com

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