Manito Ahbee Festival begins in Winnipeg with lighting of sacred fire

The 2016 Manito Ahbee Festival kicked off in Winnipeg on Wednesday with the lighting of a scared fire.

People gathered to watch the ceremony at the Oodena Circle at The Forks,where tobaccowas offered to the flames.

The Indigenous festival runs until Sunday night and includes a music conference, youth education day and art expo.

On Friday therewill alsobe a concert featuringperformances by Western Canadian Music Awards nominee William Prince,Stoney Park Drum Group, Dee Erin Bandand Juno Award winner Susan Aglukark.

On Saturday and Sunday, more than800 dancers will head to the RBC Convention Centre for the Manito Ahbee International Pow Wow, the largest powwow in Canada.

The name Manito Ahbee was given to the festival through a ceremony to recognize one of the most important traditional Indigenous gathering sites in North America, the festival's website says.

"The Manito Ahbee site is located in the western Whiteshell area of Manitoba, and marks the location where the Creator makes his home," the website says.