Wet weather proves no damper on West Mo Days 2025

MOBERLY LAKE, B.C. — Despite some wet conditions which hampered its beginning, West Moberly First Nations’ (WMFN) annual Indigenous culture event went off without delay this weekend.

West Mo Days celebrated its 37th annual event, showcasing different aspects of Indigenous culture during the last weekend of July.

After months of preparation, WMFN events coordinator Daniel Desjarlais told Energeticcity.ca he was exhausted after all the work to put on the event.

“I’m tired but ready to go,” said Desjarlais. “It’s not as good [a crowd] as we might normally have, but there’s actually still quite a few people here. I threw up as [many] tents as I could to fight the rain and laid tarps everywhere.”

To the north of the West Mo Days grounds, there were hand games tournaments and volleyball tournaments underway, and a kids’ section with bouncy castles and amusement rides. It also featured helicopter flights for attendees.

To the south, varied events included athletic competitions such as horseshoe, bow and arrow, axe throwing as well as non-athletic events, including tea boiling, bannock making over an open fire and dry meat contests.

WMFN band councillor Clarence Willson oversaw the double-elimination horseshoe tournament, which featured 16 teams competing for cash prizes.

The game is played by throwing the equine footwear at a peg marked in a sandpit in the ground, with three points going for landing it around the peg, called a ringer; two points for leaning against the peg; and one point for it being closest to the peg.

“They have got to throw it underhand,” said Willson. “Some people get it so their horseshoe just spins enough so that when it comes in, it’s flat and hits the peg.

“When guys are really good at it, they get it to a point where they can do it so it spins twice and hits.”

The event welcomed First Nations families and non-Indigenous residents, some experiencing the First Nations culture for the first time.

Elizabeth Adeyemi, a youth worker from Dawson Creek, “had fun,” enjoying what West Mo Days had to offer.

“This my first time here,” said Adeyemi. “It’s fun seeing people happy and having fun together as a family.”

For the first time, the beading competition was voted on by attendees using a QR code to cast their votes for best beaded necklace, moccasins hair piece and medallion.

Overseer Brittany Knott said: “Last year, we just had the pieces up and numbered.  Voting was done by hand, and we took until midnight for the final tally.”

Saturday evening featured the talents of Hadlen, a magician, musician and comedian, and a talent show.

Sunday featured canoe racing, leg wrestling and more to finish off the three-day event.

West Mo Days took place from Friday, July 25th to Sunday, July 27th.