Chāpān Games and Teachings
Saturday, September 19, 2026 | 11am – 5pm
CN Stage, Field & Skatepark at The Forks

The FREE family-friendly event focuses on the Chāpān Circle of Elders healing through the medicine of laughter and having fun with traditional Indigenous games and will feature:

Grand Entry

Elders and kokums sharing circle
Dancers
Chāpān Traditional Kids Games
Prizes
Live Entertainment
Drag
Storytellers
Skateboarding Demos + Lessons
Free Art Workshop
Indigenous Maker Market
Free food by Winnipeg Centre of Hope - The Salvation Army (while supplies last)
Food trucks
Grand Finale

The meaning behind the Cree word Chāpān refers to the traditional role of the elderly as well as youth in families, especially when everyone in the community left every summer to go hunting and fishing at the family camps.

Granny Albert McLeod explains, “here, everyone had a role, everyone was busy – one of the Traditional roles of the Chāpāns was to take care of the young - sometimes they would lead the little ones, and sometimes the little ones would lead their Chāpans. This was the cycle of life and a very special relationship.”

“This is very different from today,” Granny Louise remarks. “Chāpān Games and Teachings is a time to remember and dream about what life was like before we all had to live apart from each other.”

We ask that attendees bring a pair of shoes to fit a child in kindergarten-grade 8. The shoes will be displayed during the event and then donated to a local school in Manitoba.

All are welcome, free to attend, RSVP isn't required.

We hope to see you there!

A special thank you to the Manitoba Government’s Orange Shirt Day Fund for supporting this important event and initiative in recognition of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

We also extend our sincere thanks to Downtown Winnipeg BIZ for their support in helping bring this event to our community.

2026 Chāpān Games and Teaching Partners:

Accessible Sport Connection Manitoba

Art City

Bear Clan Patrol

Centre de santé Saint-Boniface

Crisis & Trauma Resource Institute (CTRI)

Inaadiziwin Transitional Support Services

Indigenous Relations Division with The City of Winnipeg

Jessie Home Inc.

Kirby, Paralympian

Manitoba League of Persons with Disabilities (MLPD)

Manitoba Moon Voices (MMVI)

MB Aboriginal Sports & Recreation Council (MASRC)

Pihtikwè Skatepark

Sly Da Supastar

Winnipeg Centre of Hope - The Salvation Army

Women's Health Clinic

Contact the host of Chāpān Games and Teachings