Sioux Valley Dakota Nation cancels 2026 Winterfest, citing lack of planning time, funds – CBC

Dec 04, 2025

‘It was a very short time frame, time crunch, to get things done’ for January event, says newly elected chief

Sioux Valley Dakota Nation says its annual Winterfest celebration has been cancelled for 2026, with the southwestern Manitoba First Nation’s newly elected chief saying there was not enough time or funding to plan the four-day festival.

Jennifer Bone, who was elected chief last month in a vote that has been disputed by the outgoing chief, said planning for the festival usually starts at least six months in advance.

But prior to Sioux Valley’s mid-November election, there was no work done to plan and find sponsorship for the event, she said in a phone interview Wednesday.

Read More: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/sioux-valley-dakota-winterfest-2026-cancelled-9.7002323