Featured on the official 2021 Calgary Stampede poster, Blood Tribe teen also the Parade Marshal
The Calgary Stampede introduced Katari Right Hand as the 2021 Calgary Stampede Parade Marshal. The talented young woman from the Siksika First Nation is featured on the 2021 Stampede poster in an image that showcases determination and perseverance through turbulent times. Right Hand’s Blackfoot name is Nààpiwa otó piim Akikowan which means Rainbow Girl.
As a Fancy Dancer, her regalia features signature rainbow ribbons that can be seen on the 2021 poster. Right Hand has been dancing and showcasing her culture at the Stampede since she was a child. Now, at 17 years old, she will lead the iconic Parade, kicking off the Stampede’s annual community celebration.
“I am very proud and excited to be the 2021 Stampede Parade Marshal, so I can represent Niitsitapiiks. I’d like to thank Lexi Hilderman for selecting my picture as her entry for the Calgary Stampede 2021 poster contest,” says Katari Right Hand, a soft-spoken young woman who prefers to speak through her dancing. “I would also like to thank the Calgary Stampede for choosing me to be the 2021 Parade Marshal. But, most of all, I want to thank my parents, Marcell and Delores Right Hand, for raising me to be the best that I can be. Thank you to Creator and everyone for your continued guidance and support.”
Each year, the President & Chairman of the Calgary Stampede Board of Directors has the privilege of selecting the Parade Marshal.
“I am so honoured that Katari accepted my request to be the Parade Marshal for 2021,” said President & Chairman of the Calgary Stampede Board of Directors, Steve McDonough.
“I was inspired by the image Lexi submitted and wanted to learn more about the remarkable young woman featured. Katari Right Hand’s name Rainbow Girl is a reminder that we are coming out of a storm together and that as the clouds move behind us, the sun will shine again.”
This year’s Parade will take a new route, and be shared with the community through a virtual experience. Among many safety enhancements for Stampede 2021, the Parade will travel through Stampede Park prior to public opening on the morning of Friday, July 9, and will feature floats, marching bands and many mounted riders.
The 2021 Stampede Parade from the comfort of their living rooms through a special broadcast by our partners at Corus Entertainment.
Global Calgary will broadcast all of the excitement live on TV Friday, July 9, beginning at 8 a.m., on GlobalNews.ca, on the Global News Youtube Channel, and on Amazon Prime.
The 2021 Stampede Parade will also welcome a special group of honorary Parade Marshals who have been instrumental in our community through the past year and a half.
“We want to recognize the essential workers who have given so much to our community throughout the pandemic. From those who went to work each day at local grocery stores to ensure we had access to essential supplies, to the medical staff who have worked so tirelessly,” says McDonough.
Also joining in the festivities will be Lexi Hilderman, the 22-year old artist who created the 2021 Stampede poster, travelling the route in the Calgary Stampede Foundation carriage.
The 2020 Parade Marshal, Filipe Masetti Leite, who achieved a dream and made history on his arrival into Calgary last year in July, will be back for a more boisterous celebration. In 2012 Masetti Leite saddled up and set off from the Calgary Stampede on a remarkable adventure.
His dream was to cross the Americas on horseback. His arrival in Calgary following his incredible journey was celebrated despite the cancellation of the 2020 Stampede Parade.