In pictures: Stories behind the vests at the Xat’ǫ̀ Gathering

Vests were more than just part of an outfit at last weekend’s Xat’ǫ̀ Gathering – they carried stories of family, culture and identity. 

The gathering took place at the Wıìlıìdeh Site, near Yellowknife River, where 72 teams competed in a major hand games tournament worth $150,000 in prizes. 

For players in the tournament, the vests were a chance to celebrate their culture and come dressed for the occasion.

Dolphus Nitsiza and his sons – Philip, Dylan and Tegan Nitsiza – each brought their own vest and story.

Dolphus said wearing a vest during hand games is part of a tradition passed down from Elders.

“It’s a culture thing. It’s [from] our Elders wearing vests and, when it comes to a tournament like this, you want to come out in style, so you put on your good vest,” he told Cabin Radio.

He said the tradition reminds him of how Elders would dress for special occasions. 

For Brent Betsina, his vest was a graduation gift from his granny in 2017.

“I’ve always been told by my granny that, you know, always try to look your best. That’s [how] the Elders used to be back in the day,” Betsina said. 

“What I like about the vest is the very unique patterns that people come up with,” Tegan Nitsiza said. “Some of these designs, like my brother’s, it goes back a pretty long time.”

Dylan Nitsiza’s vest was passed down from his parents and holds significant cultural importance to him.

“It’s a sense of identity, a sense of cultural pride, especially the northern Indigenous,” he told Cabin Radio. 

Philip Nitsiza wears a vest that originally belonged to his father, Dolphus, and was passed down to him as the youngest in the family. 

He said the vest’s history in his family is part of why he continues to wear it. 

“It belonged in the family for too long, you know? Give it to the young and handsomest brother,” he joked.

Across the hand games floor, the beadwork, colours, patterns, fringe and embroidery showed that every vest can carry its own story – connecting people to family, Elders and cultural traditions.  

Here are some of our favourites from the weekend.