Celebrating Tsuut’ina and Indigenous culture, connection and community.
Taza brought Something Wondrous to life on Saturday, September 13 at the Taza Park Sales & Marketing Centre. This festival, celebrating Tsuut’ina and Indigenous culture, brought friends, neighbours, and family together to enjoy live music, traditional drumming and dancing, local artisans and market vendors, and flavourful dishes from unique food trucks.
Check out the afternoon of activities that took place below!
An Afternoon of Music, Drumming, Dance, and Community
Everyone who attended Something Wondrous experienced the rich culture, traditions, and community spirit of the Tsuut’ina Nation. The celebration began with a traditional Opening Ceremony featuring a blessing, singing, drumming, and captivating traditional dancing. The ceremony brought the community together in a display of heritage and artistry, setting the stage for an afternoon filled with music, food, workshops, and market vendors.
Throughout the day, attendees enjoyed a dynamic lineup of live performances that crossed genres and generations, explored a bustling artisan and vendor market showcasing unique handcrafted items, and savoured delicious menus from an array of food trucks.
The Sounds of Something Wondrous: Performers that captivated audiences
Something Wondrous music festival shared a vibrant mix of performers—from hip-hop and DJs to country and folk—all brought together under the lively guidance of emcee and Tsuut’ina Nation member, Livia Manywounds.
The festival lineup included a DJ set by Caylem Simeon, hip hop by Redfoot, an acoustic set by Samantha Whitney and Daughters, a singer-songwriter performance by Benedict Pipe, all leading up to the final headliner, Tyler Two Guns. Throughout the day, Interactive traditional performances—including the Owl Dance and Round Dance invited everyone to take part in the celebration.
Event Schedule
- 12:00 – 12:30 PM — Opening Ceremony
- 12:30 – 1:30 PM — DJ Set by Caylem Simeon
- 1:30 – 1:45 PM — Hip Hop Performance by Redfoot
- 1:45 – 2:00 PM — Samantha & Daughters
- 2:00 – 2:30 PM — Interactive Owl Dance
- 2:30 – 3:30 PM — Performance by Benedict Pipe
- 3:30 – 4:30 PM — Performance by Tyler Two Guns
- 4:30 – 5:00 PM — Interactive Round Dance
Food, Flavour and Fun in Every Bite
Attendees lined up to get a taste of various dishes from three unique food trucks. A Tsuut’ina Nation favourite, Bhey’s Bannock offered from-scratch comfort food that puts an Indigenous spin on beloved classics, including hot dogs, burgers, and tacos. Spud Mobeel brought the ultimate comfort food with fresh-cut Alberta fries alongside signature potato-centred favourites, and Rick’s Wild Game’s Happy Food Truck offered a variety of meats and wild game dishes.
Spud Mobeel and Bhey’s Bannock are local favourites that were some of the culinary attractions at Something Wondrous 2025. Photo credit: Spud Mobeel and Bhey’s Bannock.
Meet the Makers: Shopping Unique Indigenous Handcrafted Goods
The artisan and vendor market at Something Wondrous highlighted a diverse range of handcrafted treasures from artwork to clothing and so much more. Attendees were inspired to shop local and connect with the artisans to learn the story behind their beautiful, skillfully crafted creations.
- Abalone Shines Photobooth – This Indigenous-owned Calgary business brings fun to every event, allowing guests to capture memories that last a lifetime and turn celebrations into keepsakes.
- Autumn’s Native Gifts – As a 100% Tsuut’ina-owned business dedicated to uplifting Indigenous makers, their curated selection features authentic Indigenous apparel, wellness products, home goods, and more.
- Blue Flower by Eagle Tail – Offering handmade, culturally inspired creations, this Indigenous-owned artisan business showcases traditional designs, such as ribbon skirts, hoodies, blankets, sling bags, beaded hair clips, and embroidered patches.
- Dit’oni Designs – Meaning “Eagle Designs,” this family-run Tsuut’ina business creates unique jewelry and regalia that carry the story of tradition and craftsmanship.
- Emerald Henna YYC – A Cree-owned business offering intricate henna designs, hand-painted press-on nails, and unique handmade jewelry.
- J&J’s Jewelry Boutique & Jayden’s CREE-A-TIONS – Sharing a booth, this pairing offers a vibrant mix of handmade jewelry, home goods, artwork, and more, celebrating creativity and culture across generations
- Kwósel Indigenous Jewelry & Art – With designs featured in New York and Paris Fashion Weeks, as well as Indigenous markets and community events across Treaty 7, Kwósel creates signature triangle beadwork.
- Meguinis Crafts – A family-run business creating handcrafted beaded and hand-sewn pieces, from earrings and bracelets to regalia such as breastplates, chokers and buffalo bags, each made with care and cultural pride.
- Nikanaseek Beads – Anishinaabe artisan Nikanaseek Beads brings tradition to life through beadwork, creating pieces that inspire confidence, celebrate Indigenous culture, and deliver meaningful, wearable art.
- Pâh Mûk Thâbî House – A mother-and-son Ēithka family business creating handmade pieces using natural materials like stone, shell, and bone.
- Rider Native Art – Showcasing the work of Indigenous artists, Rider Native Art blends traditional and contemporary styles, offering pieces that carry rich cultural stories and artistic heritage.
- Skye Black – A fifth-generation beader from Siksika Nation, specializing in authentic and contemporary handmade jewelry and crafts.
- Tribal Honey (by Dan Crane) – Blending cultural knowledge with natural harvesting practices, Tribal Honey offers locally harvested honey infused with the traditional Indigenous medicine ingredient bear root, creating a nourishing and delicious honey that is deeply connected to tradition.
Creativity was unleashed with Hands-On Workshops
Attendees took part in two unique interactive workshops designed to inspire creativity and celebrate culture! A guided workshop led by Cree_ationz encouraged people to learn the art of traditional beadworking, where stories and techniques passed down through generations are shared.
A creative terrarium workshop also allowed attendees to connect with the land and nature. These family-friendly activities for all ages provided an opportunity to create a masterpiece and bring home a memorable reminder of the day.
Exploring the Vision Behind the Community Village
Something Wondrous Festival took place at the Taza Park Sales & Marketing Centre, offering a unique opportunity to discover the vision behind the development. Attendees were able to connect with community ambassadors, meet the builders creating homes within this growing village, and learn about how Taza Park is fostering a vibrant, inclusive community for all.
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS
We gratefully acknowledge the generous support from our sponsors, whose contributions helped bring the Something Wondrous Festival to life:
- ATB Financial – The Drumbeat Sponsor
- ATCO – The Friends of the Festival Sponsor
- Brookfield Residential – The Berry Patch Sponsor
- Crystal Creek Homes – The Dene Exchange Sponsor
- Enoch Civil Construction – The Friends of the Festival Sponsor
- Homes by Avi – The Friends of the Festival Sponsor
