Rocky Boy Powwow 2015

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Rocky Boy powwow will see participants from around the world John Paul Schmidt jpschmidt@havredailynews.com The 51st Annual Rocky Boy Powwow kicks off July 31 and lasts for three days until Aug. 2.

Jonathan Windy Boy, the coordinator of the event, said that this year’s powwow will be a grand event with many participants from all around the continent and some from around the world. “We’re going to have a whole bunch of

people who haven’t been here in years,” Windy Boy said. “I’ve been on the road promoting this every week. This is my life.” He said this powwow will be staffed well and run very fairly. The announcers for the powwow are reputable nationwide, he added.

“There is going to be a lot of people,” Windy Boy said. “There’s a lot of buzz going around Indian country about being here.” If people wish to dance in the powwow, they can visit the coordinators’ stand at the powwow grounds. Registration will probably start around 3 or 4 p.m. at the stand, Windy Boy said. Windy Boy said a whole lot of vendors will be at the powwow, as well, and their booths will stretch all around the powwow grounds. Windy Boy has been involved with powwows since 1960 and said he thinks they are an important aspect of Native American life. “I got a few years’ experience,” he said. The first grand entry of the powwow is Friday, July 31, at 7 p.m. The next day, Saturday, Aug. 1, will see grand entries at 1 and 7 p.m. and Sunday’s grand entry is set for 1 p.m. The youth powwow starts Thursday night, but Windy Boy said he was not sure what time it begins exactly. First place in the powwow will earn the winner $1,000. Second place is $800, third is $600, fourth is $400, fifth is $200. The singing contest winner will win $8,000. Second place will receive $6,000, third will receive $4,000 and fourth will get $2,000. Drum circles will also receive prizes. The Saturday Night Men’s Fancy Special is going to start after the 7 p.m. Saturday grand entry and is “a real crowd pleaser,” Windy Boy said. They have held to event in the past and Windy Boy said, “Why ruin a good thing?” The event is flashy, fun and popular with the people who attend the pow-

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Havre Daily News/File photo Ronald WindyBoy of Great Falls, a Vietnam War veteran, leads the grand entry at the opening ceremony at the Rocky Boy Powwow in 2014.

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daughter 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

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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.

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

www.havredailynews.com 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.

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

Powwow: Southern Style ‘49’ set for Thursday, Friday after powwow n Continued from page 2 wow. There will also by a Southern Style “49” Singing Contest Friday and Saturday nights after the powwow is over. He said that it is more of a social dance, “a round dance kind of deal.” To get to the powwow grounds from Havre, take U.S. Highway 87 south to the turn off for the reservation. There will be a Montana highway sign and an arrow pointing east to the road to enter the reservation.

The turnoff is about 14 miles south on Highway 87, Windy Boy said. Stay on the road to Rocky Boy about 10 miles. The powwow grounds will be unmistakable and on the left side of the road, about 10 miles from Highway 87. From Great Falls, people can take a right on the main road in Box Elder, Laredo Road, to head east toward the reservation. At around 12 miles, the road will end in a T-intersection. Take a left and shortly thereafter, the powwow grounds will be visible on the right.

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n Continued from page 9 large, colorful feather bustles on the dancer's back, and the dance has larger motions and spins not seen in other dance styles.

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.

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

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Ultimate Warrior Challenge Set John Paul Schmidt jpschmidt@havredailynews.com The 2015 All Nations Ultimate Warrior Challenge kicks off July 31 at Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation. This event is akin to a triathalon that takes participants around the Bonneau Dam on Rocky Boy. Competitors must run, ride bareback, shoot arrows and swim against the clock and each other to receive the grand prize and honor of being the Ultimate Warrior. From Bonneau Dam, to Monteau Road, to Square Butte, competitors must run about two-and-a-half miles to the staging area, where they will mount their horses. From there, they will ride four-and-a-half miles back to Bonneau Dam. The route will be marked. Once they reach Bonneau Dam, competitors will have 10 arrows to shoot. Once they hit the target with an arrow, or spend all their arrows, 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 to the south side to reach the finish line, which will be on the dam. Men’s division contestants will have to swim half a mile and women and juniors will have to swim .2 miles.

Men are the only contestants who compete in the competition as individuals. Women and juniors must compete in teams as a relay. Loranda Lafrombois, the main organizer of the event, said there are three people to a team. Winners of the competitions will get their part of the $4,000 budget for prizes. Depending on how many contestants pay the entry fee, men will get around $1,000 if they come in first, $750 for second place, $500 for third and $250 for fourth place. Women’s teams will receive around $750 for first place, $500 for second and $250 for third. There are also prizes reserved for the junior teams. The entry fee for men is $150 and for youth and women’s teams, it’s $100. The starting times are 10 a.m. for youth teams, 11 a.m. for women’s teams and noon for men. La f ro m b o i s s a i d t h e d e a d l i n e fo r entries is July 24, but they will continue taking entries until the day before the competition. Havre Daily News/File photo Wyatt MadPlume races on horseback with David Dobbs chasing behind in the 2014 All Nations Ultimate Warrior Challenge at Rocky Boy.

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2015 CCRA Rodeo set at Rocky Boy Pam Burke community@havredailynews.com While the Rocky Boy Powwow celebrates Native American culture, another area tradition will see a great deal of action that weekend, too: rodeo. The 2015 Rocky Boy United Indian Rodeo Association Region Rodeo is set for Wednesday, July 29, and Thursday, July 30. And this year’s rodeo action will have two more days of competition with tie-down roping, ladies breakaway roping and team roping Friday, July 31, as well as barrel racing, a youth rodeo and bull riding Saturday, Aug. 1. To cap the weekend, singer/song writer Armond Duck Chief will perform at the arena that Saturday night. All four days of rodeo action will take place at the Sybil Sangrey-Colliflower Memorial Rodeo Arena about 3 miles east of Box Elder. The route will be marked with signs. Admittance to the stands at the events is free to the public, except the bull riding the concert. Admission price wasn't set for the bull riding and concert by deadline, but organizers said the cost would be minimal. Organizers expect as many as 350 competitors over the course of four days. The Chippewa Cree Rodeo Association, the group orchestrating the four days of activities, is getting major sponsorship from The Washington Redskins Original Americans Foundation again this year. This has allowed CCRA to offer considerable added money for payouts for the events, helping to draw in top competitors from across the region, including Canada.

UIRA Rodeo The Rocky Boy UIRA Region Rodeo will begin with slack for all competitors at 10 a.m. and the top 12 contestants per event competing again at 6 p.m. both Wednesday and Thursday. The events in the two days of rodeo are open to competitors with INFR membership. In years past, the rodeo has had contestants go on to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, as well as state championships and the Indian

Havre Daily News/File photo Mackenzie Fox races through polebending poles during 2014 youth rodeo in Rocky Boy. National Finals Rodeo. Main events will include bareback, saddle bronc, bull riding, tie-down roping, steer wrestling, team roping, ladies barrel racing and ladies breakaway, along with junior barrel racing, steer riding and breakaway and senior team roping and breakaway. With a $1,000-added purse offered for each event, except team roping which has $2,000 added, the Rocky Boy rodeo gives competitors a chance to win some of the top prizes in the region, said Dustin White, one of the organizers for the rodeo events. About 170 competitors from the U.S. and Canada will be on hand vying for money in

rough stock, roping and timed events, White said. These competitors can also earn points toward qualifying for the Indian National Finals Rodeo which will take place Nov. 3-7 at the South Point Equestrian Center in Las Vegas.

Special Events The action Friday and Saturday is open to all competitors, and White invited all local rodeo competitors, no cards needed, to take part, vying for some of the top payouts in the region against top riders and ropers. Friday’s Mary LaMere Memorial Tie-

Down Roping & Ladies Breakaway Roping begins with breakaway at 10 a.m. and tiedown roping at 1 p.m. Each event has a $2,000 added purse. A $2,500-added purse is up for grabs in the Enos Johnson Sr. Memorial Team Roping Jackpot, and prizes include Corriente saddles, buckles and jackets. Signup for the team roping is 5 to 6:30 p.m., with the competition beginning at 6:30. Advance registration for these events in the days before the rodeo isn't necessary, White said, but it will help give organizers a better idea of how much stock to have on hand. For those registering the day of, the office will open an hour before the competition begins. To preregister or get more information on these Friday competitions, people can call Tenniell Tatsey at 395-4265 or 399-7069. Saturday’s competition begins at 9 a.m. with Open Barrel Racing in a 3D format. Registration starts at 8 a.m. The Kid’s Rodeo begins at noon, but contestants had to have entered by July 20. The events will include: • barrel racing, arena race, steer chase and sheep riding, 6-under • barrel racing, pole bending, steer chase and steer riding, 7-10 • barrel racing, pole bending, breakaway, steer riding and team roping, 11-14 • barrel racing, pole bending, breakaway, steer riding and team roping, 15-18. The rodeo committee is offering added money for the payouts in each category as well as prizes. The final action of the day is the Jerod Reed Coffee Memorial Bull Riding competition at 6 p.m. With 40 bull riders competing for the $10,000 added payouts, prizes and a slot in the top 10 short-go, the contestants will be working hard to make their eight seconds count. The four days of rodeo will end after the bull riding in fitting style with a concert from country singer-song writer Armond Duck Chief, who hails from Alberta, Canada. For more information on any of these competitions, contact Tenniell Tatsey via phone395-4265, text 399-7069 or her Facebook page. • See page 5 for the rodeo schedule

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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 different sometime around the mid-1900s. 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 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 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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A girl participates in opening ceremonies during the 2014 Rocky Boy’s youth powwow.

Havre Daily News/File photo

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n Continued from page 7 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 dedicated 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 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

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Rocky Boy Celebration Second Annual 3-on-3 basketball brings economic celebration tourney scheduled Alex Ross aeross@havredailynews.com

Pam Burke community@havredailynews.com The second annual 3-on-3 Team Redskins Basketball Jamboree is set for Friday and Saturday during the powwow. The tournament will take place at the Stone Child College parking lot, starting at 4 p.m. Friday and 8 a.m. Saturday. Eight teams in seven divisions — junior high boys and girls, high school boys and

girls, 18-22 men and women, and 45 and older men — will vie for bragging rights and prizes in the the top three placings. Two days in to the registration period Dustin White, one of the organizers of the event, said they were getting a good response. "It's going to be a big event," he added. For more information, call the Chippewa Cree Tribal Resource Department at 3954225.

Schedule of Rocky Boy Celebration rodeo events

All events are set to be held at the Sybil Sangrey-Colliflower Memorial Rodeo Arena. Admittance is free, except where noted.

Wednesday, July 29 • 1st UIRA Region Rodeo – 10 a.m., slack • 1st UIRA Region Rodeo – 6 p.m., top 12

Thursday, July 30 • 2nd UIRA Region Rodeo – 10 a.m., slack • 2nd UIRA Region Rodeo – 6 p.m., top 12

Saturday, Aug. 1 • Open Barrel Racing – 9 a.m. • Kid’s Rodeo – Noon • Jerod Coffee Memorial Bull Riding – 6 p.m. * • Armond Duck Chief concert – following the bull riding * * minimal fee to attend, ticket covers both events

Friday, July 31 • Mary LaMere Memorial Ladies Breakaway Roping – 10 a.m. • Mary LaMere Memorial Tie-Down Roping – 1 p.m. • Enos Johnson Sr. Memorial Team Roping Jackpot registration – 5 p.m. • Enos Johnson Sr. Memorial Team Roping Jackpot – 6:30 p.m.

Local businesses are preparing for a huge influx of tourists next week, as people from far and near flock to the area for the Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation annual powwow and rodeo. Every August for about half a century, the yearly celebration of Chippewa Cree music, dance and culture have brought people from across the U.S and Canada to the Hi-Line. The reverberations of that annual pilgrimage have also been a boon to the area economy. Many of the 700 to 1,000 dancers, along with their families, other participants, vendors and spectators will be staying in hotels, dining at restaurants and shopping at businesses throughout the area, especially in downtown Havre. “It’s huge for the whole town,” said Scott Young, owner of Norman’s Ranch and Sportswear, a locally owned store that specializes in western-themed clothing and apparel. Many of the people who stop into Norman’s every year either to make a purchase or just chat, come every year. This year any profits the extra traffic generates would be especially welcome. A mean season of drought has reeked havoc on some crops in the area and significant damage from the July 4th hailstorm hurt others and changing Canadian exchange rates have, in recent months, dragged down the local economy. Hotels perhaps see gain the most from this spike, when not only those attending the powwow, but busses full of tourists passing through the area or families heading to Glacier National Park. Guests often make reserve rooms as much as a year in advance for this weekend. “Generally what we see is the entire

area for like a hundred miles will be totally booked,” said Ruby Christiansen, manager of AmericInn in Havre. Local establishments will also have to increase their volume and number of people working. “More staff, more food products and more specials if we can,” said Peggy Rambo of 4-Bs restaurant in describing exactly what will be needed to meet the demands that come with a surge in customers. 4-Bs’ sales nearly double each year during that weekend, she said. Retail giants also see the rewards of the powwow weekend. Sales could rise as much as 20 percent, said Lee Richter, assistant manager at Kmart, with everything from bottled water to camping supplies flying off the shelves. Local attractions may also see a surge in interest from guests who want to learn about the history of Havre. “A lot of times they happen to stumble upon it,” said Christy Owens office manager of Havre Beneath The Streets and the Frank DeRosa Railroad Museum. “And once they are in the door, kind of peeking at the railroad museum, then from there they decide whether to take a tour or not.” The museum has five employees with schedules that fluctuate based on demand, but it also has a number of backup guides, who can be tapped if needed to handle an increase in tour numbers. Despite the pressures ahead and during the powwow, the general consensus among the businesses in Havre is that the revenue and increase in activity it brings to the area is a big plus. “The people are great and everyone has a lot of fun,” said Young. “We’re busy, but we have a lot of fun.”

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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.

Havre Daily News/File photo Head Male Dancer Wesley Windyboy puts on a show during the 2014 powwow at Rocky Boy Indian Reservation.

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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 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

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

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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 candi-

dates. 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 blessing 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

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