Sadie Turning Robe
Oki/Amba Wa’ste – Hello! My name is Sadie Turning Robe, and I proudly come from the Cega’kin (Carry the Kettle) Nakoda First Nation located in Treaty 4, Saskatchewan and Siksika First Nation, Treaty 7 Alberta. I’m in my 3rd year of studies in Bachelor of Business Administration – General Management at Mount Royal University, Calgary AB. As a Nakoda/Blackfoot woman, I dedicate myself to decolonization and working towards healing my generational cycles. Joining the Powwow Circle at the age of 13, it has been my mission to encourage Indigenous youth to reconnect with tradition and healthy movement.
Andrew Buffalo
Hello, my name is Andrew Buffalo, I come from the Maskwacis Cree nation located in Treaty 6. I currently work with the youth of the Tsuu Tina nation at the Manyhorses Highschool and have been for the last 3 years. My goals are to encourage the younger generation to use sports to keep a connection with the people they grew up with. I participate with many former students playing hockey games in the winter and in the summer as well. While hockey is fun, I spend most of my summer traveling to powwows around the area reconnecting with friends and family.
Argintina Hailey-Lawrence
Argintina Hailey-Lawrence is a proud Two-Spirit Member of the Stoney Nakoda First Nation. She has accomplished a lot in her 25 year drag career n has held many titles in her lifetime which includes Legacy Two Spirit Princess 36 of the Greater Vancouver Native Cultural Society, including her first ever City of Calgary Elected Title of Ms Gay Calgary 2001-2002.
Argintina has held the title of Her Imperial Sovereign Majesty, Empress 29 in 2005, Empress 37 in 2013 and Empress 45 in 2021, this title is part of the Imperial Sovereign Court of the Chinook Arch, Southern Alberta’s oldest 2SLGBTQ Charity Organization. Argintina was awarded as one of the Lifetime Achievement Award back in 2019 for her continued work raising funds for charity and raising awareness for various organizations she
is passionate about.
Argintina has worked effortlessly to have the Two Spirit Drag Artists of Treaty 7 Territory be included in Major Drag Events in Calgary & Southern Alberta. Her Greatest Milestone is bringing Pride Celebrations to her homeland of The Stoney Nakoda First Nation, which they celebrated their 3rd Annual Mînî Thnî (formerly known as Morley) Two Spirit Pride 6 years ago. The Mînî Thnî (formerly known as Morley) Two Spirit Pride Celebration was officially announced as being the first and only one to celebrate Pride on a First Nation Treaty Land in Alberta when they had their first Celebration.
Argintina is of the Old School Drag Era but is not afraid to dabble her toes in today’s modern day drag. She can write a book about her many accomplishments but she just wants everyone one to know, she is truly grateful to be able to hold on long enough to path the way for future Two Spirit Drag Artists. Most recently Argintina was named as one of the 2023 CBC/USAY Calgary’s Indigenous Changemakers and was awarded for her work to include Two Spirit/IndigiQueer Artists in Major 2SLGBTQ+ Events across Southern Alberta.
Nuunu Aqsaqkaq
Kunukuttuk “Nuunu” Aqsaqkaq is a dedicated advocate for Inuit Culture, language, and community well-being. Originally from Iqaluit, Nunavut (In the Qikiqtaaluk Region) but now based in Calgary, Alberta. They are passionate about preserving traditional knowledge while promoting youth engagement and education. Nuunu actively works in cultural preservation, community development, and storytelling through throatsinging, drumdancing, traditional story telling, art, and more. Nuunu they/he is Non-binary, a gender identity heavily known to Inuit culture, and uses their traditional knowledge to advocate for the LGBTQ2S+ community.
Miracle Eagle Speaker
Miracle Eagle Speaker is a vibrant 9-year-old dance performer from the Blood Tribe, currently residing in Siksika. Miracle has a passion for dance that ignited in the summer of 2022. Though she first explored Jingle Dress dancing, she found her true love in Fancy dance, famously remarking after trying Traditional dance, “Mom, Traditional doesn’t have my heart like Fancy does.” Beyond her impressive performances, Miracle cherishes the joy of traveling to pow wows and spending time with her friends and cousins.
The Blackfoot Confederacy Drum Group
Gathering together singers from the Kainai, Siksika, Peigan and Blackfeet tribes, the Blackfoot Confederacy drum group is devoted to maintaining the traditional Blackfoot singing style. Combining classic songs from the tribes of the Confederacy and new songs made in their traditional style, Blackfoot Confederacy has emerged as one of Pow-Wow’s strongest voices.