Post by Moon Seeker on Jul 10, 2009 12:41:28 GMT -5
By JENI DODD • Tribune Staff Writer • July 10, 2009
North American Indian Days, one of the nation's largest gatherings of North American native people, offers an intriguing way to see authentic Blackfeet traditions.
The Browning event features four days of contest dancing, games, sporting events and socializing and runs through Sunday.
Admission to the grounds is free.
Hearing and feeling the mystery of the drum and seeing the traditional and fancy dancing lends an understanding of native culture visitors won't find in any book.
Browning's annual Community Celebration Day, held today, kicks off the 58th annual event.
The celebration day includes the Browning Mayor's Cup Walk/Run, hosted by the Town of Browning and the Antelope Society. The walk/run starts at 9 a.m. at City Park and includes 1-mile walk and 1-, 3-, and 5-mile runs. A picnic lunch and a horseshoe tournament are also part of the celebration.
Indian Days masters of ceremony are Earl Old Person, Eldon Weasel Child and Jason Good Striker. Host drum is Tha Boyz from Minnesota. Arena directors are Mike LaFromboise and Alden Sthingyhunter.
Grand entries begin at 1 and 7 p.m. today at the dance arbor.
Contest and honor dancing form the backbone of Indian Days. Dancers wear regalia or traditional dress — garments handed down through generations representing hundreds of hours of handiwork. Referring to these beautiful, artistic works as costumes is considered bad etiquette.
Contest dancing is offered in both male and female categories. Dance categories include fancy, traditional and grass dance for men; and fancy, traditional, jingle and old-style jingle for women.
Children's dancing includes fancy, grass, traditional and old-style chicken dance for boys; and fancy, traditional and jingle dress for girls.
Golden age dances include men's buckskin for ages 55 and over; women's traditional for ages 45-59; women's buckskin and cloth for ages 60 and older; and men's open and women's open categories.
Relatives of a deceased person or a person returning after a long absence often sponsor an honor dance in their name. These are known as dance specials.
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Indian Days, like all powwows and gatherings, also will host an inter-tribal dance with each dance session, where everyone, including non-native spectators, is encouraged to participate.
Saturday morning begins with a DeLaSalle Blackfeet School breakfast from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Other Saturday activities include a four-person golf scramble and the parade, which begins at 11 a.m.
Dancing continues Saturday with a grand entry at 3 p.m. Indian Days also features a Miss Blackfeet and Princess contest, arts and crafts sales, and blackjack and poker tents.
For more information, visit browningmontana.com/naid.
There is a fee for photographing and videotaping within the dance arbor. The fee varies. Check at the announcer's booth for more information.
POWWOW ETIQUETTE
Observe and respect the honor songs — men and women should stand, remove their hats and be silent.
At the opening of the powwow, called the grand entry, a flag song is sung and spectators should pay their respects to the colors.
It's best not to take photos during honor or prayer songs.
www.greatfallstribune.com/article/20090710/ENTERTAINMENT05/907100310/1050/North+American+Indian+Days+continues
North American Indian Days, one of the nation's largest gatherings of North American native people, offers an intriguing way to see authentic Blackfeet traditions.
The Browning event features four days of contest dancing, games, sporting events and socializing and runs through Sunday.
Admission to the grounds is free.
Hearing and feeling the mystery of the drum and seeing the traditional and fancy dancing lends an understanding of native culture visitors won't find in any book.
Browning's annual Community Celebration Day, held today, kicks off the 58th annual event.
The celebration day includes the Browning Mayor's Cup Walk/Run, hosted by the Town of Browning and the Antelope Society. The walk/run starts at 9 a.m. at City Park and includes 1-mile walk and 1-, 3-, and 5-mile runs. A picnic lunch and a horseshoe tournament are also part of the celebration.
Indian Days masters of ceremony are Earl Old Person, Eldon Weasel Child and Jason Good Striker. Host drum is Tha Boyz from Minnesota. Arena directors are Mike LaFromboise and Alden Sthingyhunter.
Grand entries begin at 1 and 7 p.m. today at the dance arbor.
Contest and honor dancing form the backbone of Indian Days. Dancers wear regalia or traditional dress — garments handed down through generations representing hundreds of hours of handiwork. Referring to these beautiful, artistic works as costumes is considered bad etiquette.
Contest dancing is offered in both male and female categories. Dance categories include fancy, traditional and grass dance for men; and fancy, traditional, jingle and old-style jingle for women.
Children's dancing includes fancy, grass, traditional and old-style chicken dance for boys; and fancy, traditional and jingle dress for girls.
Golden age dances include men's buckskin for ages 55 and over; women's traditional for ages 45-59; women's buckskin and cloth for ages 60 and older; and men's open and women's open categories.
Relatives of a deceased person or a person returning after a long absence often sponsor an honor dance in their name. These are known as dance specials.
(2 of 2)
Indian Days, like all powwows and gatherings, also will host an inter-tribal dance with each dance session, where everyone, including non-native spectators, is encouraged to participate.
Saturday morning begins with a DeLaSalle Blackfeet School breakfast from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Other Saturday activities include a four-person golf scramble and the parade, which begins at 11 a.m.
Dancing continues Saturday with a grand entry at 3 p.m. Indian Days also features a Miss Blackfeet and Princess contest, arts and crafts sales, and blackjack and poker tents.
For more information, visit browningmontana.com/naid.
There is a fee for photographing and videotaping within the dance arbor. The fee varies. Check at the announcer's booth for more information.
POWWOW ETIQUETTE
Observe and respect the honor songs — men and women should stand, remove their hats and be silent.
At the opening of the powwow, called the grand entry, a flag song is sung and spectators should pay their respects to the colors.
It's best not to take photos during honor or prayer songs.
www.greatfallstribune.com/article/20090710/ENTERTAINMENT05/907100310/1050/North+American+Indian+Days+continues