Authentic Native American Powwows Captivate audiences of all ages
T
he annual Rocky Boy Powwow attracts thousands of people from around Montana, the United States and Can-
ada. This year's event starts Friday, Aug. 1, to Sunday, Aug. 3 on the Rocky Boy's Indian Reservation. In recent years, the powwow has expanded to include an extensive rodeo with large payouts. The dances have attracted contestants from around the country. Few public events rival the beauty, intensity, spectacle and spirituality of Native American powwows. Competitive dancers and drumming/singing groups travel from all over the United States to vie for thousands of dollars in prize money. The feeling of family and community is palpable at powwows, where families host feasts at their camps of tepees and tents
assembled nearby for the weekend. Everyone is invited to join the meal. Vendors sell everything from Indian tacos and traditional stews to T-shirts and CDs of the most popular drummers and singers. The dancing at powwows always begins with a grand entry, when all of the dancers gather by category of dance style and regalia — often 10 or more categoreis are featured — and dance into the powwow circle after veterans carrying the sacred eagle feather make their entrance. The groups of dancers continue to fill the circle as drumming groups take turns accompanying them. Grand entries are generally scheduled for early afternoon and again at night and are held on each day of the powwow. The grand entry is often followed by special dances in memory of elders and others who have died in the previous year. Sponsoring families have giveaways, bestowing fine blan-
kets and other gifts to friends in the crowd. Competitive dancing is broken down by style, gender and age group, with even tiny tots participating. Each type of dancing has its guidelines for regalia and dancer's movements, and often its own story as well. For instance, the women’s jingle dance originated from a traditional story of love and healing. Originally the dress incorporated natural objects like shells and animal hooves to make sound. Today, dresses are decorated with metal cones, one for every day of the year. The cones are made from rolled-up snuff can lids. The men’s grass dance is one of the original dances of the Plains, and springs from spiritual roots. Grass represents the nat ral harmony in the universe and encompasses everything — the animals, all the elements, and the sky. The dance serves to bring about harmony between humans and the universe. Grass dancers wear costumes with a great deal of fringe, as well as colorful ribbons and beaded or decorated belts, cuffs and and armbands. They also wear colorfully decorated breechcloths. The collective impact of the
dancers’ flowing motion in swirling vibrant regalia and the piercing sounds of singers testing the outer limits of their vocal cords against the backdrop of heavy drumbeats is breathtaking. People unable to attend can keep up with events by listening to KHEW, the reservation's radio station, For more information on the Rocky Boy powwow, call 406395-4478.
Powwows at Fort Belknap Indian Reservation
• Milk River Indian Days at Fort Belknap Agency is July 25-27 with a youth powwow Wednesday, July 24. Events include outdoor boxing matches, a parade Friday at 1 p.m. and the Mosquito Run cross-country race. For more information, call Lisa at 406353-2281. • Hays Powwow is Aug. 7-10 in Mission Canyon near the southeast corner of the reservation. Thursday, Aug. 7, is reserved for a youth powwow and camp day. For more information, call Shawn at 406-673-3717.
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