This year’s Manito Ahbee Festival will be extra special for Manitoba music legend Ray St. Germain.
"This year they announced that they're going to present me with a lifetime achievement award," said the Métis singer-songwriter.
St. Germain said he looks forward to the festival every year. The parade of dancers at the International Pow Wow is one of his highlights.
"They just keep coming. And the colours, and the sounds! And they just keep dancing through the whole arena."
The festival has been moved up from its usual November date and organizers said they're pleased to now be in the summer festival season.
"We were kind of feeling like the left out cousins in November and wanting to be a part of everything that happens in Manitoba," said executive director Lisa Meeches.
The festival will start off by attempting to set a new record for the largest round dance. Organizers hope to have 400 people turn out for the event on Thursday during the noon hour on Edmonton Street.
"Right now Prince Albert holds the record at 350 round dance participants so this year we want to beat them," said Meeches.
Other highlights include a gospel jamboree Saturday afternoon and the aboriginal people's choice music awards which will happen Sunday night at the MTS Centre.
"It's voted for by people internationally,” said Meeches. “It's an international voting process and this year we've had more submissions than any other year."
St. Germain says the Manito Ahbee Festival is one of the best showcases for First Nations artists. "It's a great celebration of aboriginal culture, for sure."
The festival starts Thursday and wraps up with the International Pow Wow five days later.
- With a report by Ben Miljure
