Rocky Boy Pow Wow 2016

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Chippewa Cree overcame obstacles to create a homeland John Kelleher jkelleher@havredailynews.com On Sept. 7, the Chippewa Cree Tribe celebrates the 100th anniversary of the creation of Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation. The centennial is being honored during the Rocky Boy’s 52nd Annual Celebration, commonly known as the powwow, Aug. 5, 6 and 7. Other events honoring the 100th anniversary will take place throughout the year. The formation of the reservation was a key moment in the history of the bands o f C h i p p ewa a n d Cree in this area. The two tribes had worked together fo r m a ny ye a rs before the reservation was founded. A history of the tribes compiled by scholars at Stone Child College — one of the most detailed histories of the tribe — the tribes were hunters and gathers for centuries, roaming along what is now southern Canada and the northern United States. Bison were hunted for food, and their skins used for shelter and the b o n e s m a d e i n to tools. In the mid1850s, it is estimated that between 50 and 80 million bison roamed the plains. But when whites arrived, they soon hunted the bison into extinction. According to Jim Spangelo, the manager of the H. Earl Clack Memorial Museum, the bison on

what is today known in this region lasted longer than in other areas, but were gone by the late 1880s. That left the Chippewa and Cree bands without any source of food. They fled Canada for fear of persecution. For years, they wandered around northern Montana, looking for a home. For a while it seemed that the solution was found when land was offered the tribe in what is today Valley County. For a

variety of reasons, many involving white residents, the plan fell through. Then the Chippewa and Cree were ordered by the U.S. government to move to vacant parcels on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation. Each family was given an 80-acre tract. That, the Natives

argued, was unacceptable since the land was acreage the Blackfeet didn’t want because it was so bad for farming. Chippewa Chief Rocky Boy, whose name is also translated as Stone Child, and Cree Chief Little Bear worked together over the years to create a reservation for their people. Little Bear often deferred to Rocky Boy, though, because Rocky Boy was born in the

United States. Little Bear had been born in Canada and fled to Montana for fear of execution. They secured the help of friendly white Montanans, including noted Western artist Charles M. Russell. Some threatened that unless Congress acted, they would

launch a letter-writing campaign to eastern newspapers letting them k n ow o f t h e c o n d i t i o n s t h e Chippewa and Cree bands were forced to live under. There wasn’t unanimous support. Newspapers of the time reported that many Havre residents wanted to see the land homsteaded as was land west of the city. F i n a l l y, o n S e p t . 7 , 1 91 6 , President Woodrow Wilson signed a

congressional act that had been approved by both houses. Initially, the reservation was to have included four “townships” but the final version of the law called for only three townships in the reservation. Much of the best farmland was in the fourth, the one that had been removed.

Chippewa and Cree flocked from the Blackfeet reservation, and other places to which they had been scattered, to their new homeland. Their joy at having the reservation was tempered by the loss of Chief Rocky Boy, who died April 18, months before the reservation he had fought for was officially created. Mourning Natives agreed unanimously the reservation should be named for him. At first, the Chippewa and Cree settled in what is today Rocky Boy Agency, then spread out to Sangrey and Parker School. At the first reservation meeting, it was voted to establish a school. It was quickly built and o p e n e d, b u t f re quently closed after that because it was hard to keep teachers. The reservation was officially underway and the two bands became known as the Chippewa Cree Tribe. It was hardly the end of the Chippewa Cree’s problems. For the next century, they faced natural disasters and discrimination. Indeed, one year after the reservation opened, the area was hit with a severe drought that shut down farming and gardening on the reservation. But the Chippewa Cree tribal members now had a homeland where they could settle and plan their future.

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$20,000 total payout for 20th Annual Stick Game tournament Paul Dragu pdragu@havredailynews.com The 20th Annual Stick Game Tournament, also known as the Bone Game or Sla-Hal, will be played Aug. 6 and 7 as part of the 2016 powwow at Rocky Boy, with a total payout of $20,000 for the top four teams. Gayle Denny, who works as the Employee Wellness Coordinator at the tribal office, said the stick game tournament has been part of the powwow for as long as she can remember. The game is played like this: There are five people to a team and each

team — the "hiding" and the "guessing" team — must have a leader. The stick game is played with two pairs of bones, each pair consisting of one plain and one striped bone. Typically, 10 sticks are used as counters and an extra count stick called the kick stick goes to the starting team. The "raw,” or uncooked, counting sticks, are divided evenly between opposing teams. Different rules such as which bone will be guessed, the plain or striped bone, are determined by the traditional format of the tribe or region — the plain bone or the striped bone. California, Oklahoma and Dakota Indians

generally call for the striped bone, whereas most other tribes prefer to guess for the plain bone. The two teams, the one hiding and one guessing, sit opposite one another. Two members of the hiding team take a pair of bones and hide them, one in each hand, while the team sings, and uses traditional instruments such as drums, sticks, rattles and clappers to try and distract the guessing team. The captain of the guessing team then must guess the pattern of the hidden bones. Since each hider holds one plain and one striped bone in each hand, there are four pos-

sibilities. A gesture with a stick or hand generally accompanies each call. Every time a caller guesses incorrectly, the calling team must turn over one stick to the hiders. If a hider is guessed, he must surrender the guessed bones to the calling side. The side continues hiding and singing until both pairs of bones have been guessed and surrendered. Then the teams reverse roles, and the game continues in this manner until one team holds all the sticks. Denny said there’s an open game Friday night, before the tournament begins Saturday. She said she’s hoping for a good turnout.

Hotels booked for months for Rocky Boy powwow-goers Paul Dragu pdragu@havredailynews.com Hi-Line hotel managers agree the annual Rocky Boy celebration is good for business. Peggy Nault, front desk clerk at the Best Western Plus Havre Inn and Suites, said both Best Western hotels in Havre have been booked for months for the Aug. 5-7, the days of the celebration. She said a lot of people who come to the powwow normally book their stay for the next year before leaving.

Nault said, as of July 14, people have been put on a waiting list. Many guests come from Canada, she said, as well as from Wyoming, Colorado and California. Assistant Manager of TownHouse Inn of Havre Cathy Erickson said the hotel had been booked for the powwow weekend for three months. Like Nault, Erickson said a lot of people booked this year’s stay last year before leaving. Erickson said the hotel's booked guests also are coming from Canada and the same

states, as well as New Mexico. Erickson said the TownHouse Inns’ guest house is where many singers and dancers who will perform in the celebration will be staying. Erickson said, as much as she’d like to, she has never had a chance to attend a powwow because she usually works. This year, she said, two of the desk clerks who work at the hotel who will be dancing at the powwow. She is excited about seeing the participants’ regalia. As of July 14, there was still room in the

area for people who decided late that they wanted to come to the powwow and needed a place to stay. Irfan Abbasi, assistant manager at the Super 8 Motel, said the motel had more than 30 rooms available for that weekend. Customers who mention the powwow are eligible for a discount, Abbasi said. Representatives from Chinook Motor Inn in Chinook and the Grand Union Hotel in Fort Benton said there was room for the weekend in their respective hotels as well.

Montana Tribal History Timeline, continued n Continued from page 10 approved. Tribal members testified and gave evidence as to the need for a reservation school district. Citing a 12 percent Indian student graduation rate in Havre High

School, as well as other incidents of discrimination, a strong case was made for a separate reservation school district. 1979 — Rocky Boy Alternative High

School opened to meet the needs of 32 students who had dropped out of the public school system. 1984 — A tribal ordinance was passed,

creating the charter for Stone Child College. 1987 — The Rocky Boy Tribal High School was built and the tribes petitioned to create a new public high school district. The tribes

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Montana Tribal History Timelines Rocky Boy’s Reservation

Ultimate Warrior challenge to kick off first day of powwow

By Montana Office of Public Instruction The Montana Tribal Histories Reservation Timelines are collections of significant events as referenced by tribal representatives, in existing texts and in the Montana tribal colleges’ history projects. While not all-encompassing, they serve as instructional tools that accompany the text of both the history projects and the Montana Tribal Histories: Educators Resource Guide. The largest and oldest histories of Montana tribes are still very much oral histories and remain in the collective memories of individuals. Some of that history has been lost, but much remains vibrant within community stories and narratives that have yet to be documented. Time Immemorial — “This is an old, old story about the Crees (Ne-I-yah-wahk). A long time ago the Indians came from far back east (Sah-kahs-te-nok) … . The Indians came from the East not from the West (Pahki-si-motahk). “This wasn’t very fast. I don’t know how many years it took for the Indians to move West” — Joe Small, government ethnic heritage studies program. 1851 — Treaty with the Red Lake and Pembina Chippewa included a land session on both sides of the Red River. 1855 — Treaty negotiated with the Mississippi, Pillager and Lake Winnibigoshish bands of Chippewa Indians. The tribes ceded a portion of their aboriginal lands in the Territory of Minnesota, and reserved lands for each tribe. The treaty contained a provision for allotment and annuities. 1863 — Treaty with the Mississippi, Pillager and Lake Winnibigoshish bands of Chippewa Indians ceded a significant portion of their lands as designated in the 1855 treaty. 1 8 8 7 — T h e M o n t a n a Te r r i t o r i a l Legislature appropriated $500 for relief for the Cree camped on the Sun River. 1893 — Crees camped at Silver Bow suffered an outbreak of scarlet fever.

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1894 — Despite the policy criminalizing the spiritual traditions and ceremonies of tribes, the Cree held a Sundance. 1896 — A total of $5,000 was appropriated by Congress to fund the deportation of the Cree from Montana. 1896 — Buffalo Coat filed a petition with the court, saying that he and the other Cree who were detained for deportation were not afforded due process of the law. Buffalo Coat claimed U.S. residency since 1885 and noted the number of children in their group that had been born in the U.S. A judge determined that the state court did not have authority to give a ruling as the deportation was through act of Congress. The deportation to Canada went ahead. 1909 — Rocky Boy’s band were ordered to the Blackfeet Reservation. Some 11,000 acres of 80-acre parcels were set-aside for them. 1912 — Fred Baker searched for a permanent settlement for Rocky Boy’s band and other landless Indians. Fort Assinniboine by the Bear Paw Mountains was offered as a possibility. 1914 — Frank Bird Linderman wrote letters to influence addressing the landless Indian issue. 1915 — A survey was done of Fort Assinniboine to determine its suitability for a reservation. 1916 — Chief Rocky Boy died April 18. On Sept. 7, a congressional act designated a tract of land as a refuge for the “homeless and wandering Indians.” This became Rocky Boy's Indian Reservation. The land included part of the abandoned Fort Assinniboine Military Reserve. The original bill was to include four townships. Within this land base there were 21 tillable sections, 80 grazing sections and 12 timbered sections. Unfortunately, the bill was approved with one amendment — the removal of one township. This land included the lower valley of Beaver Creek that contained the tillable acres. The refuge ended up totaling approxi-

mately 56,035 acres. More land was added later between 1934 and 1946, almost doubling the size of the reservation, now totaling 107,613 acres. The reservation was named after Chief Rocky Boy as an honor to their departed chief. 1916 — The first agency school was built. 1917 to 1920 — A drought ended reservation gardening and eliminates most reservation jobs. 1925 — A health survey revealed 23 of 65 children attending school had advanced trachoma; nine had evidence of tuberculosis; and all showed signs of malnutrition. Of the adult population, 20 percent had tuberculosis. 1928 — Sangrey Day School was constructed and served grades K-5. 1930 — Haystack Day School was established. 1931 — Parker Day School was constructed. These latter schools served the tribal member populations moving away from the agency out to the reservation districts. Sometimes the schools were empty as it was hard to keep teachers employed. Housing was scarce and conditions were challenging. Charles Gopher, born in 1933, remembered attending Parker Day School. In addition to formal schooling, one of his memories was that of the children being gathered together at a home to learn songs and cultural knowledge from elders such as Young Boy, Chief Goes Out and Well Off Man. 1931 — The Interior Department encouraged mining on the reservation as a 20-year lease was granted to the Bear Paw Mining and Milling Company of Havre to mine gold, lead, silver, copper and vermiculite. The Bureau of Indian Affairs limited tribal royalties to 7.5 percent. The tribe derived no income from this arrangement and, in fact, the company failed to pay rents and provide safe working conditions. 1933 — Through the New Deal programs, several government projects accomplished

road building, construction of an irrigation ditch, Bonneau Dam and some home construction. Houses were built on “assignments.” At this time a house could be constructed for $500. 1934 — With a vote of 172 for and seven against, the Rocky Boy residents voted to organize under the Indian Reorganization Act. 1935 — Some 35,000 acres adjacent to Rocky Boy was purchased and put in trust for the Chippewa, Cree and other Indians. It became unclear just whom this land was purchased for. There were still landless Indians in the state at this time. Rather than set up two reservations, it was decided to make the 35,000 acres part of the Rocky Boy reservation, with the tribes’ adoption of 25 additional families. 1936 — Dr. Henry Roe Cloud conducted a census of landless Indians that totals 550 families representing 3,000 landless Indians eligible for adoption. Eligibility required an Indian blood quantum of one-half or more. 1936 — The worst drought in the history of the state forced the tribe to sell the 350 cattle they were able to save. 1938 — Non-ward Indians were adopted. 1944 — Trusting the promise of Havre, Hill County, and the state to help the Rocky Boy Tribes with their land acquisition program, the Chippewa Cree tribal council gave up its claim to Beaver Creek Park. The tribe never received the support promised. 1948 to 1949 — Record low temperatures required emergency airlifts of hay, food and clothing to keep people and cattle alive. 1949 — The Bureau of Indian Affairs and Rocky Boy Business Committee worked to get a bill introduced for economic support for the reservation. Funding was requested in the form of low-interest loans. The bill died without any congressional action. 1970 — The Rocky Boy reservation’s petition for their own school district was finally

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The grueling 2016 All Nations Ultimate Warrior Challenge will kick off Aug. 5, the first day of the 2016 Rocky Boy’s 52nd Annual Celebration. “It’s a challenge,” said Dustin White, director of tribal water resources, which sponsors the Ultimate Warrior Challenge. White said this is the sixth year of the Ultimate Warrior Challenge, which is similar to a triathlon, but with horses instead of bicycles and the added element of archery. The competition will have three divisions: The youth, for 17 and younger; the ladies, open to all ages; and the men’s, also open to all ages. “It’s all the activities that an ultimate warrior traditionally would have had to do. One-hundred years ago, you would have had to ride a horse, you would’ve had to swim across the creek, or the river, you’d have to shoot archery — we kind of

put all the aspects into one event,” he said. White said the challenge normally lasts anywhere from 35 to 45 minutes. From Bonneau Dam, to Monteau Road, to Square Butte, competitors must run about 2.5 miles to the staging area, where they will mount their horses. From there, competitors will ride 4.5 miles back to Bonneau Dam, bareback. Once Bonneau Dam is reached, participants will have five arrows to shoot to pop a balloon. As soon as the target is hit, they move on to the next portion of the race, the swim. The archery section of the race is on the north side of the reservoir and contestants must swim across and to the south side to reach the finish line, which will be Havre Daily News/File photo David Dobbs wins All Nations Ultimate Warrior Youth Challenge during the 2014 Rocky Boy Pow-Wow at Rocky Boy's Indian Reservation.

on the dam. “When you come out of the reservoir, it’s still another two, 300-yard sprint to the finish,” White said. White says the Ultimate Warrior competition has become popular at other reservations and has grown at the Rocky Boy powwow. Contestants can sign up until the day of

the competition. Youth start time is 10 a.m. Women start at 11 a.m. and men at noon. All races start at Bonneau Dam, which is east of Box Elder. The top three placers in all three divisions will receive cash prizes, and awards will be given for the most fierce warrior in each division and for the best looking horse overall.

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Rocky Boy rodeo celebrates 100 years Pam Burke community@havredailynews.com The Sybil Sangrey-Colliflower Memorial Arena in Box Elder will host four full days of rodeo action, Aug. 3-6, with youth and INFRsanctioned rodeos, open event specials and high-dollar paybacks bringing in top-ranked competitors from around the region and beyond the state borders. “I would like to see all the folks in the region here come over and watch truly some of the top competitors in the country,” said Dustin White organizer for the Rocky Boy Reservation 100 Year Anniversary Rodeo. With prize money added in each event, points counting toward Indian National Finals Rodeo standings and the chance to help celebrate the Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation 100year anniversary, expectations are high for number and quality of entries, White said.

Youth Rodeo

The event leads off with the Chippewa Cree Tribe Youth Rodeo starting at 2 p.m., with four events in the 6 years old and younger and 7 to 10 divisions and five each in the 11 to 14 and 15 to 18 divisions, plus three special events. With a variety of events from the boot race to barrel racing and bull riding this rodeo will be fun to watch, and after this warm-up the big events start the following day with the Rocky Boy Reservation 100 Year Anniversary Rodeo and several special events.

INFR Tour Rodeo

“We’re anticipating this will be one of the larger INFR Tour rodeos this year,” he said. Past years, White said, have seen some of the top PRCA Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, Professional Bull Riders association and INFR competitors — such as NFR team roper Derrick Begay, PBR bull rider Jess Lockwood and INFR barrel racer Emily Kallenberger, who is from Havre and also a top rider in the Northern Rodeo Association. White said he expects to see the same caliber of competition this year. The Rocky Boy rodeo, Aug. 4-6, is part of the INFR tour, and competitors in that circuit will be looking to raise their standing in the

ranks to earn a slot at the INFR in Las Vegas, Nov. 8-12, especially with $3,000 added to the payout in each event. The rodeo starts at 7 p.m. Thursday for the first performance, 1 p.m. Friday for the second performance, 9 a.m. Saturday for slack and 7 p.m. Saturday with the top 12 competing in the short-go.

Special Events

Organizers are making the most out of those three days of rodeo adding four special events including tie-down roping, barrel racers, team roping and bull riding.

Thursday will see three special events starting with the Mary LaMere Tie-down Roping Memorial at 10 a.m. in the arena in Box Elder. Preregistration entries were topped out at 30, and these entrants will be vying for $3,500 in added purse money. The competition format will give competitors two go-rounds and the top 15 will come back for a short go. The overall winner will earn a signature Jay Contway sculpture, but all participants will be invited to a luncheon barbecue. Ladies Barrel Racing will follow as the second special event. This competition, which

Rocky Boy Reservation 100 Year Anniversary Rodeo Wednesday, Aug. 3 - Saturday, Aug. 6 Sybil Sangrey-Colliflower Memorial Arena Box Elder, Montana Wednesday, August 3 Chippewa Cree Tribe Youth Rodeo, 2 p.m. Thursday, August 4 Mary Lamere Tie-down Roping Memorial, 10 a.m. - Entries closed Ladies Barrel Racing Special, noon - Pre-enter, 406-399-7069, or enter day-of, 9-11:45 a.m. Enos Johnson, Sr. Team Roping Memorial, 2 p.m. - Enter day-of, starting 1 p.m. Rocky Boy Reservation 100 Year Anniversary INFR Tour Rodeo, 1st performance, 7 p.m. - Entries closed Friday, August 5 Rocky Boy Reservation 100 Year Anniversary INFR Tour Rodeo, Jr./Sr. events, 9 a.m. - Entries closed Rocky Boy Reservation 100 Year Anniversary INFR Tour Rodeo, 2nd performance, 1 p.m. - Entries closed Jerod Reed Coffee Memorial Bull Riding, 7 p.m. - Entries closed Saturday, August 6 Rocky Boy Reservation 100 Year Anniversary INFR Tour Rodeo, slack, 9 a.m. Rocky Boy Reservation 100 Year Anniversary INFR Tour Rodeo, short-go performance, 7 p.m.

starts at noon, is open to all competitors, who can register at the event from 9 to 11:45 a.m. The winnings, with $1,000 added, will be split into four divisions based on time, with the event being run in 4D format. The final special event of the day will be the Enos Johnson Sr. Memorial Team Roping starting at 2 p.m. Registration for this event opens at 1 p.m. for the open team roping and 2 p.m. for the no-cap team roping. Organizers are providing an added $1,000 on the prize money, along with Pendleton jackets and buckets to the winners. “We’re expecting about 150 teams in the roping,” White said, “some of them, like (Derrick) Begay are top ropers in the nation.” For more information, people can contact Justin FourColors at 390-2217 or Lauren FourColors at 390-2611. The final special event will be the Jerod Reed Coffee Memorial Bull Riding which will be the headline event Friday. “This is the second annual Jerod Coffee Memorial,” White said. “Last year they had 30 bull riders. This year we’re anticipating we’ll probably push that to 50.” Bird Bucking Bulls out of Cut Bank will provide the majority of the bulls, White said, and Richard Bird is planning to bring some of his top bulls, most likely including his PBR bulls Chocolate Thunder and Karate Kid. With $10,000 added payout, along with prizes of saddles, jackets, buckles and satin star quilts, this will be one of the biggest events in the region, White added. General admission tickets for the rodeo are $5 and everyone is welcome to come watch, he said. Signs starting in Box Elder will direct rodeo-goers from U.S. Highway 87 to the rodeo grounds. “It should be a lot of fun. It’s cheap entertainment for someone to come out and watch truly some of the world’s best cowboys,” White said. “You don’t get much opportunity like this to see some of these top world champions.” —— See page 5 for a list of the junior rodeo events.

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A guide to the Rocky Boy powwow, continued n Continued from page 8 earth. When Indians acquired cloth from white traders, they began to make much of their clothing from it. Many eastern woodland, plains and southwestern people make cloth shins and blouses, leggings, etc. that are elaborately decorated with ribbons and silver buttons. Ribbons are cut, folded and appliquéd to create geometric or abstract floral designs. Our people still make beautiful dresses out of buckskin. The most treasured buckskins are Indian tanned. Using traditional methods, the Indian tanning process makes the hides very white and soft as velvet. A tan color is achieved by smoking the hide. When the dress is finished, many hours of beading begins. Beading ranges from fully beaded tops — common among the Sioux — to beaded strips across the front shoulders and around the button of the dress — Southern Plains. The ladies' traditional style is actually a combination of four styles: northern buckskin, northern cloth, southern buckskin and couthern cloth. While similar in many ways, each of these styles has its own distinct style of dress and dancing. Like all dance styles, these have strong roots in customs and traditions that have been passed down for years. The outfits are based on traditional clothing from specific tribes, and thus there is a great deal of variation from one dancer to the next. The dancing itself also varies widely based on the tribe represented, but always focuses on the grace and dignity of the dancer. The outfit often includes fringe on a shawl or the dress itself, along with other accessories, which must move in perfect time to the song.

Women’s Fancy Dance Women's fancy dance features very elaborate footwork and lots of beadwork. In the fancy dance categories, it is very important to know all the songs to stop exactly on the last beat. The women wear hinged shawls and try to match all accessories. Ladies' fancy shawl is the newest style of ladies' dancing, and is similar in several ways to men's fancy dance. Women's fancy dance emerged in the 1950s and 1960s — and became vastly more popular over the next 20 years — among young women who were looking for a more stylistic, and energetic, dance style. The dance is light, graceful and very athletic. The dancers move much like a butterfly, and their outfits are bright and colorful to match. Particular emphasis is given to the shawl, which is worn over the shoulders and spread out along the arms like wings.

Women’s Jingle Dress Women's jingle dress dancers wear very simple but beautiful cut-cloth dresses decorated with tin cones that jingle as they move.

Grand Entry held during the 2014 Rocky Boy Pow-Wow at Rocky Boy's Indian Reservation. There are several stories about the origin of the jingle dress, but they mostly agree that it was first seen in a dream and was intended as a way to heal those who were ill. As one tradition tells it, this style of dance had its beginnings in a young Chippewa woman's dream, then grew into society. Another says after a medicine man's granddaughter became very ill, he had a dream that showed him how to make the dress and which instructed him to have her dance in it. When the dress was made, she wore it and danced, very weakly at first, but becoming stronger as she went until she was healed. Today, jingle dance specials are sometimes requested by those with friends or relatives who are sick. The dress is made with a large number of tin lids — originally from the tops of snuff cans but now made from tin lids off chewing tobacco cans — rolled into cones and attached to the dress. Some traditions call for 365 cones, one for each day of the year. As the jingle dancer moves, her dress makes a very distinctive sound. The Chippewa Cree Events Committee adds other dance style categories as a sign of respect and hospitality to visiting tribes, styles like men's prairie chicken, men's crow belt, men's southern straight and women's elk tooth crow style.

Powwow Etiquette Etiquette for spectators and newcomers: Listen to the master of ceremonies. If you do nothing else on this list, at least do this. The benches in the arena are normally reserved for dancers. Be prepared to provide your own chairs. Ask permission to take photos or videos of individual dancers — shots of groups or the arena as a whole are usually fine. Listen to the MC for times that you should not take pictures. Always stand, if able, during social honoring songs. These will be announced by the MC. Gentlemen should also remove their hats. All pets and food should be kept outside the dance arena at all times, even between dance sessions. Only dance during intertribal songs or when you are invited to dance. Do not dance during competition. If you have a question, ask. If you are honestly interested and curious, most people will be happy to answer your questions.

Etiquette For Dancers Listen to the master of ceremonies and, most importantly, listen to the arena director. Respect the positions of the head danc-

Havre Daily News/File photo

ers. Don't dance before the head dancers start dancing. Seats on the benches may be reserved with a blanket. Never move or sit on someone else's blanket without permission. Be on time and ready to dance in full regalia. Dress properly in appropriate dance clothes — if you don't know what's appropriate, ask. Respect the protocol of the group sponsoring the powwow. This often includes dancing around the arena in a particular direction. Stand for all specials and other honoring songs. Certain items should only be used by those who are qualified according to the traditions of their tribe. These include war bonnets, rattles, whistles and religious items. Firearms — even nonoperational ones — lances with points and unsheathed knives should not be carried while dancing for safety reasons. If you feel you must carry one of these items, speak with the arena director ahead of time. All specials must be coordinated with the MC. You may be required to have it at a certain time or dance session. This is to benefit the entire powwow, so please be understanding. Never come to a powwow with alcohol, under the influence of drugs or intoxicated.

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A guide to the Rocky Boy powwow, continued

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2016 Chippewa Cree Tribe Youth Rodeo

n Continued from page 7 large, colorful feather bustles on the dancer's back, and the dance has larger motions and spins not seen in other dance styles.

Events list for rodeo on Wednesday, 2 p.m.

Men’s Grass Dance Men’s grass dance features fluid, graceful, sweeping movements. Their colorful outfits are hinged with yarn, ribbon or cloth. This dance style originated from the plains. The dancers move as if they are smoothing down the tall grass; hence, the name. There are several stories about the origin of grass dancing. Many people say that the dance started among the young men who where sent out to flatten the prairie grass to form a dance arena. Rather than just stomp down the grass, they turned the chore into a dance. It is also said that they tied bundles of sweet grass to their belts, and tried to imitate the movement of the tall prairie grass swaying in the wind. Thus, in the dance today, you can see the dancers swaying and moving in the "wind," as well as seeing motions that look like they are moving through or stomping down the grass. The grass dance outfit today is far more colorful than it has been in the past. The original bundles of grass have been replaced with ribbons, yarn or cloth strips. When dancing, the dancers try to get the entire fringe in their outfit moving constantly in the swaying motion of the prairie.

6-younger ($100 added) Barrel Racing Arena Race Sheep Riding Goat Ribbon Pull 7-10 ($100 added) Barrel Racing Pole Bending Ribbon Goat Tying Steer Riding 11-14 ($150 added) Barrel Racing Pole Bending Goat Tying Breakaway Roping Steer Riding 15-18 ($150 added) Barrel Racing Pole Bending Goat Tying Breakaway Roping Jr. Bulls Special Events (enter on-site) Dummy Roping Boot Race Team Roping

Women’s Traditional Dance In women’s traditional dance, the feet never completely leave the ground, which symbolizes women's close ties with mother

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A participant dances during the 2014 Rocky Boy Pow-Wow at Rocky Boy's Indian Reservation.

Havre Daily News/File photo

Havre Daily News/File photo Barrel racer Kellen Colliflower had a race time of 23.72 in the 7- to 10-year-old division of the 2015 Rocky Boy Youth Rodeo held during the 2015 Rocky Boy Celebration at Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation.

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A guide to the Rocky Boy powwow The history, the dances and powwow etiquette (Presented with information courtesy of the Chippewa Cree Tribe.) The Rocky Boy Celebration powwow again will bring crowds from around the continent to Hill County this year in a massive celebration of Native American heritage. The origin of the word powwow comes from a mispronunciation of the Algonquian word that referred to a gathering of medicine men and spiritual leaders. The term became used for any sort of large gathering of Native Americans, including celebrations that many tribes held for successful hunts or harvest, weddings, or any other purpose. For many years, even into the 1920s, many such gatherings were frowned upon or even banned by the government. At the same time, there was a concerted effort to remove all traces of Native American culture and heritage. As a result, many tribal customs for specific ceremonies or gatherings were lost, and many tribes decreased dramatically in size. Thus, in the 1930s and 1940s, when gatherings were once again tolerated, many tribes began to share their customs with each other and to open up their gatherings to members of other tribes in order to preserve the culture. The end of World War II is seen by many as a turning point, when many Indians returned as veterans and heroes. The civil rights movements of the 1960s also served to help rebuild a sense of identity and pride. It was around this time that the powwow took on its modern form, and most of the dance styles were established as distinct categories. Powwows have grown considerably in number and popularity since that time, and can be found in all parts of the United States and Canada — and often in other countries as well — every weekend of the year.

The powwow today The modern-day powwow can be traced to the grass dance societies that formed around the turn of the last century. The grass dance is known by many different names among the various tribes and has an interesting history. It can be traced back to the war dances and victory celebrations of an earlier era. Originally only experienced warriors could belong to the grass dance societies. Throughout the years, the powwow has evolved into a tradition exemplifying generosity and giving, as we come into the circle with honor and respect for each other and the drum. Powwow time gives us a chance to reflect on who we are as Indian people and to celebrate our rich heritage. Powwow singers are held in high regard by

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cated to honor a particular person or persons. It is customary to stand in silence to show respect when an honor song is sung. The give-away song is one way of honoring certain individuals or groups among Indian people. Here the gesture is more important than the value of the gift. It is an honor to give and it usually takes great preparation.

The Eagle Feather

Havre Daily News/File photo

Grand Entry held during the 2015 Rocky Boy Pow-Wow at Rocky Boy's Indian Reservation. our people as the keepers of our songs. We are grateful that our young people continue to learn the old songs. As different tribes gathered together, the use of vocables — words that are a combination of certain sounds without regard to meaning — evolved so singers could share songs. Today, some songs are sung completely in vocables. Yet these songs, like songs with words, still hold significant meaning to those who know them. Songs are still being composed today. Songs still exist from pre-colonial times as well as recent wars. War, bravery, love and friendship are a few favorite themes.

The Grand Entry Although powwows may differ, depending on the location of type, the following is a system used by many powwows throughout the plains area. Many powwows use the following format: First the eagle staff is carried into the circle, followed by the American, Canadian,

Montana and tribal flags. The titleholders from tribal pageants and — if present — Miss Indian America candidates. Other invited dignitaries are next, followed by the men traditional dancers first, then grass dancers and fancy dancers. Women come next, followed by traditional dancers, fancy shawl and jingle dress dancers. Next are the teen boys, then girls and then junior boys and girls in the same order as the adults. The last to enter are the tiny tot boys and girls. The dancers dance sun wise, or clockwise, around the arbor, showing the audience that they are ready to begin showing their outfits — the term costumes is seen by some as derogatory — and their dance steps letting them who watch know whom they are and what they can do. This may vary from tribe to tribe or powwow to powwow. When the grand entry song ends, there is a flag song, an equivalent of the national anthem. Then there is an invocation bless-

ing the gathering. After the eagle staff — always positioned above the American Flag to signify the first nation — is tied to the pole in the center of the arbor or brought to the announcers’ stand. A welcome is extended. and then there may be a few words by various dignitaries. When this portion of the ceremony is completed the dancing can begin.

Songs The flag song is the Indian equivalent of the national anthem. In recent years, nearly every tribe has composed a flag song, dedicated to the men and women who have served in the armed forces in various wars. There is no dancing to this song, but all stand in respect. Certain women may traditional dance in place for their father, brother, or son who is or was a combat veteran. The flag song is sung at the beginning of most Indian activities. The honor songs are special songs dedi-

CELEBRATION

August 2016

If the eagle feather is dropped during a powwow everything comes to a halt until the feather is honored. Eagle feathers are treasured and precious to Indian people. Historically and traditionally, it is the right of any wounded warrior to retrieve a fallen eagle feather. The eagle feather is the spirit of a fallen warrior and can only b e m a tc h e d i n p owe r by t h e s a m e. Recording and photographing such a ceremony is strictly forbidden. Those tribes that adhere to strict traditions and customs will allow only wounded veterans to carry and retrieve the spirit of the father. The pow-wow of today uses four veterans, representing the four cardinal directions to dance around the feather. The first two verses are straight verses with no down beat, paying respect to the Creator and the spirit of the fallen warrior. The next four verses will have the dancers charge the feather on the downbeat. The downbeat represents the cannon and gunfire in any song, so in the case of this ceremony, the veterans are charging the gunfire of the enemy. Each will charge with his right hand extended to touch or take coup. Those who have not taken coup will use an eagle feather fan, because they are not strong enough to touch the spirit. Again, this is very important to follow, because of the grave consequences to be paid if one insults the spirit. After the sixth verse, the honored veteran will pick the feather up with his left hand and give a war whoop to acknowledge the capture of the spirit of the feather. The veteran then returns the Eagle feather to its owner and the owner give him a gift in appreciation of the services that the veteran has performed for him.

Head Staff To be selected as one of the head people is a high honor. The head people are selected not only for ability, but also for personal qualities and actions.

The Head Man And Woman Dancer The head man and head woman guide and direct all the dancers throughout the powwow weekend. The other dancers wait in respect until the head man and woman dancer start each song.

The Head Singer The head singer of each drum must know all the songs to be sung. The head singer either starts the drumming/singing or

selects another "lead" singer to begin the song. All other singers/drummers must wait for the signal for them to join in.

The Head Veteran The head veteran has the honor of carrying in the Indian flag at the very front of the precession of the dancers during Grand Entry. He also has the responsibility of "Retreating the Colors" at the end of each dance session.

Dancers Most dances seen at powwow today may have had different meaning in earlier days, but have evolved into the social dances of today. Although, dance style and content have changed, their importance to Indian People has not. You will see no religious dancers at powwows today.

Men’s Traditional Dance The traditional male dancer keeps in older dance style and expresses his own individuality by combining both contemporary and traditional styles in costumes. Although dance style varies depending on the individual, tribal and/or regional ties, there are certain items of apparel, which are common among most traditional male dancers. The traditional dancers execute a very graceful and dignified dance closely resembling styles of early days. The traditional dance style — also called contemporary traditional — emerged from the Northern Plains. It is based on the same traditions as old style, but became identifiably differe n t s o m e t i m e a ro u n d t h e m i d - 1 9 0 0 s. Traditional outfits tend to use more modern materials, more feathers and ribbons, and larger bustles than old style outfits. The dancing itself tends to involve more movement and action. The dancing often resembles two things: the movements of animals, particularly birds, found in the Northern Plains, and the movements of a warrior showing off his ability and accomplishments in battle.

Men’s Traditional Southern Straight The straight dance comes originally from the Southern Plains, and has its origins in the dances of the warrior societies of several tribes. Often called the Indian tuxedo, the straight outfit looks much more tailored than those of other dance styles. There are few feathers and no bustles, which are instead replaced with cloth and ribbon work, giving the outfit a very sleek, clean appearance. Today, many bright colors and silver go into the outfit, providing Havre Daily News/File photo Head Female Dancer, Anika Topsky puts on dances at the 2014 Rocky Boy Pow-Wow at Rocky Boy's Indian Reservation.

the flash that is found in other outfits. Straight dancing tends to be smoother and involves less motion than other dance styles. It reflects the older, experienced warrior moving with the grace and ease of long practice as he surveys everything around him and sees that it is good.

Men’s Fancy Dance Men’s fancy dance is a modern-style dance that has its roots in old grass dance. This exuberant style of dance is fast paced and features elaborate footwork and high jumps. Fancy dancers wear sheep or sleigh bells to help maintain the rhythm of the dance and two feather bustles worn on the neck and back. These were at one time made of eagle feathers. Today, many are made of white and dark eagle feathers decorated with small

www.havredailynews.com colorful feathers called hackles. Men's fancy dance has its origins in the old Wild West shows of Buffalo Bill Cody and others. The managers of these shows felt that the dancing being done by the Indians in their shows was not interesting enough to hold the attention of the spectators, so they had the dancers create more colorful outfits and dance faster and with more motions. Since then, fancy dance has grown considerably, in large part with the help of contest powwows. The dance has become more and more colorful and faster over the years, with larger bustles, the additional of ribbons and, of course, all manner of dance steps intended to outdo all other dancers. The fancy outfit is distinguished by its two

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