It's Stampede week in Williams Lake, which means the annual Tl'etinqox (Anaham) Horse and Bike Ride is on its way to the region's biggest event of the year.
This is the 22nd official ride, and it's a special one. For the first time ever, each Tŝilhqot’in community travelling by horse or bike to the Stampede will join up with the rest before their arrival.
"We'll be arriving as one whole nation,” said Nits’ilʔin (Chief) Dale Hance of Tl'etinqox, one of six main communities represented by the Tŝilhqot’in National Government.
The horse and bike ride was first started by the late Roland Alphonse, who over 20 years ago decided to make the journey from Tl'etinqox to the Williams Lake Stampede, a journey which, without stopping, takes more than 24 hours by foot. Alphonse would not be alone on his journey the following year, and the event soon became an official one run by the Tl'etinqox Government.
Other Tŝilhqot’in communities have also been doing their own travelling to the Stampede, but this year the communities have all coordinated spots to meet with each other and arrive as one to the Stampede.
"It reflects our growing unity," said Hance, who said it's taken lots of planning to make this happen.
This journey is nothing new, however.
"It’s going back to the days when our people use to go the Williams Lake Stampede before motorized cars and camp there," said Hance. He recalls visiting the Stampede when he was a child and there would be folks camping all the way to the hill.
"It used to be one big camp there,” he said. “Williams Lake Stampede has really changed over the years.”
Hance said he will be participating in this year's ride, though as a busy chief, he may have to tap in and out.
“Who knows, I might end up on a horse," he said. "I'm looking forward to this, it’s going to be fun.”
Tl'etinqox will meet up with Tŝideldel (Redstone) on Sunday, June 22 before taking off down Highway 20. They will meet with Yuneŝit’in (Stone) and spend the night at Tl’esqox (Toosey), before meeting up with Xeni Gwet’in (Nemiah) at McIntyre Lake where they will spend another night.
ʔEsdilagh (Alexandria) will also join the travellers, who will be arriving into Williams Lake on Friday, June 27, just in time for the first day of the 97th annual Williams Lake Stampede.
“In our culture, we like to get together and have gatherings," said Hance, explaining it's a Tŝilhqot’in tradition to come together, socialize and host activities. "It goes way back to our ancestors, it’s just the way we carry on our culture...keep our culture strong.”
He said the ride is important for younger generations, allowing them to connect with their culture and roots.
“They’re just pumped to get going...they really enjoy it,” Hance said.
Over the years, the group of travellers has grown from the single Roland Alphonse to an expected two to three hundred people this year.
"Anybody and everybody is welcome to join in," said Hance. You can follow the nation's Facebook page or take a look at their website to learn more about the event, or you can find your way into the convoy. "They can come out and join up if they want, we won't turn them away."
