Nadine Tail Feathers, Blood Tribe Senior Operations Officer, Acting Senior Executive Officer, and Event Committee member, speaks at a press conference on July 23, 2025, at Rocky Mountain Turf Club in Lethbridge, AB. Photo by Pam Blood.
Blood Tribe Partners to Bring INFR Qualifier to Lethbridge
by Henry Heavyshield, Blood Tribe Communications Officer
The Blood Tribe is proud to co-host and support the inaugural Sik Ooh Kotoki Indian National Final Rodeo (INFR) Tour Rodeo Qualifier Rodeo and Indian Warrior Relay Racing during the Lethbridge Nitsitapii Reconciliation Days, July 25 -26, 2025, at the Rocky Mountain Turf Club in Lethbridge, AB.
In a new partnership with the City of Lethbridge, Bully’s Casino, and the Lethbridge Exhibition, this premiere event brings together 592 competitors from across North America –– from Arizona and Oklahoma to British Columbia and the Northern Plains –– all hoping for a spot at the INFR in Las Vegas this fall.
The Blood Tribe, along with Siksika and Piikani, has long been a powerhouse in Indian rodeo. In past years, as many as 34 – 38 tribe members have qualified for INFR, and the Blackfoot Confederacy has proudly brought home 12 World Championships.
“When we say reconciliation, there’s a long history of Indian rodeo in our area and I just wanted to highlight that as a different take on reconciliation.” said Nadine Tailfeathers, Blood Tribe Senior Operations Officer, Acting Senior Executive Officer, and Event Committee member, at the event announcement on Wednesday at Bully’s.
Tailfeathers emphasized the important work of relationship building this event embodies, as well as the tourism opportunities it will provide for both our communities, “Encourage and entice more tourism. Work with our partners, with the City, with counties, governments, trying to encourage us to build better relationships. See if we can advance in our events, our Indian sports.”
Attendees can look forward to thrilling Indian Relay Races, world-class rodeo action, and a renewed spirit of collaboration between Indigenous and non-Indigenous partners. Canadian INFR Commissioners Eugene Creighton (Kainai) and Jim Stevens, along with INFR President Bo Vocu and GM Donna Hoyt, have played key roles in making this historic rodeo possible.
The Blood Tribe welcomes everyone to come out and cheer on our champion Blackfoot cowgirls and cowboys. We’ll see you in Lethbridge!
