New Calgary Stampede commemorative boot honours Stoney ...

The Calgary Stampede and Alberta Boot revealed not one, but five different 2024 Stampede commemorative boots on April 18, honouring the cultural heritage and language of the Stoney Nakoda.

The boots were designed by 2024 Calgary Stampede poster contest winner Lloyd Templeton, along with input from his mentor and friend Duane Mark, and Stampede First Nations Princess Margaret Holloway.

Featuring the symbology of the golden eagle against the backdrop of the Rocky Mountains and the rising sun, the boots also contain an inscription of the Stoney Nakoda phrase ‘Oyadé Gichiyabi Ahogichopabi Îyûhabith’, which translates to ‘be empowered to foster peace and respect.’

“It’s a very special year for the Stoney Nakoda, so in telling my story through the boot, I want to celebrate that,” said Templeton.

He said that the phrase, which was given to him by Duane, was an important way to respect the preservation of the Stoney Nakoda language.

“Just last year, I was making school projects and then a year later, there’s going to be people wearing my art, that’s nuts. What’s even cooler about that is that it’s art that has a meaning behind it, a story, and a positive message,” Templeton said.

“Duane’s translates roughly fostering peace and respect, and that’s something I really believe. So for that to be out in the world just means the world to me.”

Artist Lloyd Templeton and First Nations Princess Margaret Holloway try on the 2024 Calgary Stampede commemorative boots at Alberta Boot in Calgary on Thursday, April 18, 2024. ARYN TOOMBS / FOR LIVEWIRE CALGARY Spotlight put on to Stoney Nakoda nation

Holloway said she was speechless when she saw the boots for the first time.

She said that working with Templeton on the design meant that she could put some of her family’s history into the design, but also the history of the Îyarhe Nakoda.

“It’s honestly so good to know that our language has also been incorporated because it is such a big thing that we need to continue,” she said.

“It’s very easy to get lost in history, and I think our language is one of the most important things that we need to carry on because it’s really hard to get it across to the youth nowadays. That’s just something we can never lose.”

The boot, along with Holloway being selected as First Nations Princess, she said, was representative of a renewed focus on the Stoney Nakoda people as part of the Stampede.

She was the first Stoney Nakoda member selected as Princess in 22 years.

“Knowing it’s been so long, I honestly just wanted to go back to my community and tell everyone that it’s our time. It’s our moment. I want to make it the best year for the Stoney people, but also not forget that I represent all Treaty 7 for the Stampede,” Holloway said.

Calgary Stampede President Will Osler holds up one of the 2024 Calgary Stampede commemorative boots at Alberta Boot in Calgary on Thursday, April 18, 2024. ARYN TOOMBS / FOR LIVEWIRE CALGARY Western wear is in

The design of the boot came about as a result of a new process for Templeton.

He said that he illustrated the boot using drawings on paper wrapped around a boot template, which was then translated into a computer-aided design that could be laser etched into the leather.

“It was a bit of a challenge working with the curvature in the different shapes of the boots, but I’m happy it seems to have worked out,” Templeton said.

Alberta Boot’s new CEO Jay Taylor said that it was a lot of fun putting together the boot with the production team ahead of the Stampede.

“They were able to tell the story of the Stoney Nakota Nation, and lean into Princess Margaret’s teepee number 24, which just happens to line up with 2024,” he said.

“We love doing the work for the Stampede. We had a great partnership with them, and every year we try to out do the last year, and I think next year is going to be really difficult for us to figure out how to top this one. But we’re excited to take on the challenge.”

The unveiling also marked the announcement by Alberta Boot that it was planning on opening a second Calgary location at Southcentre Mall.

Taylor said that western wear in general had been seeing a moment in the consumer mindset, leading to double-digit increases in growth for the sales of western clothing outside of the Stampede.

“We see people leaning into western boots, cowboy hats, and definitely apparel. You’ve got artists that traditionally didn’t participate in country such as Beyonce, now participating in the genre of music,” Taylor said.

“Tate McRae is having a moment in the pop world, she’s a local Calgarian… we see things like Coachella and Stage Coach, they’re selling out in record time, and we’re seeing that reflected in sales.”