Saulteau First Nations announces dates for July’s Pemmican Days

MOBERLY LAKE, B.C. — A summertime tradition will continue in 2025 within the territory of Saulteau First Nations (SFN) as dates for its Pemmican Days have been announced.

The annual event was started in the area by family groups who wanted to showcase traditional Indigenous culture in the Moberly Lake area.

Named after Pemmican, a cultural food made of tallow, dried meat and occasionally mixed berries, SFN began managing the gathering in 1988, according to community events coordinator Carlee Westgate.

“Pemmican is a huge part of the culture here,” said Westgate to Energeticcity.ca.

The four-day event will feature games, crafts and sporting competitions. In a move away from previous years, the traditional community feast will take place on the Thursday preceding the event.

A special guest during the feast will be Dallas Arcand, an Edmonton-based Indigenous musical artist and three-time world champion hoop dancer.

“[The dinner] usually takes place on Friday,” Westgate said. “But we’re having Dallas on Thursday.”

Event registration will take place before the community feast, from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. 

On Friday, the Pemmican parade will be the official start of the festivities. Westgate says new events in 2025 will feature a French braid, traditional dress and beading competition, in addition to events such as leg wrestling, the sling shot, ax throw and bow and arrow, and more.

Also featured events include a moccasin race, tea boiling, horseshoe throwing, bannock making and an endurance relay race featuring a runner, a motorcyclist, a kayaker and a horse rider.

Another major change will be the venue: a new stage will be front and centre for the event.  

After three decades, Westgate said a change was needed in the stage area, something she called “monumental” for the community.

“Back in the day, [the] community came together to build it,” explained Westgate. “It was an emotional time for people, when we made the decision to get a new one.”

Westgate concludes anyone who hasn’t experienced Pemmican Days should come to the grounds to truly become close with the culture.

“The community is very welcoming to people and they get to learn,” said Westgate. “It’s a great opportunity to see the culture and what the community is so passionate about.”

Non-Indigenous individuals can also register as part of a team for events, says Westgate with cash prizes of up to $10,000 for some competitions.

Pemmican Days takes place from Thursday, July 10th to Sunday, July 13th, 2025 on the territory of Saulteau First Nations near Moberly Lake, and no registration is required to attend.

Admission to the drug- and alcohol-free event is no charge.

Opportunities for vendors and food trucks are still open. Those interested can email Ethan Cameron at cameron@saulteau.com