Blackfeet Nation - Browning, Montana

Browning, Montana is billed as the largest community on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation.  With that said, it is not large in size, or in population.  It is obviously a poor community, with dilapidated buildings, sheds that pass for houses, an excess of tin, plastic and plywood as building materials, and pavement that is difficult to discern.

I visited on the Saturday of the North American Gathering of Indians from the US and Canada.  The town was active. Traffic came in a variety of forms, including foot, auto, motorcycle and horse.  The horses let loose as they do, without regard for those around them, and some of their droppings did help fill a pothole or two.

The Pow Wow, was well attended the night before, I was told.  Getting in late, I didn't have the opportunity to see any of the Friday night contests.  Unfortunately, the organizers of the event did not get a schedule printed or published prior to the start of the gathering.  So, in the hotel lobby, there was a board with hand written notes indicating a race, or dance at one time or another. (There is only the one hotel in town, and it is connected to the fair grounds used for the gathering)

St.Monica's fair at my grammer school, was better planned and organized, staged and attended.  For Saturday there were only two notes, one regarding a dance at 2pm, and horse competitions at 7pm.  I thought that there must be things for sale, or artists, or food... nope.  Or more acurrately, I don't know.  Wandering about the grounds felt wrong.  Had there been music to follow, or any signage of any kind indicating "food or attractions" I would have gladly gone, gladly paid whatever was asked, but there was none.

The whole scene was confusing to me.  I can't describe it as chaotic, because the number of people and vehicles were not excessive.  Although the young people seemed happy, the older folks moved about as if going to a dentist appointment.  In no particular rush, without any perceiveable excitement.

I wanted to see, to experience, to understand the culture of the plains Indian firsthand. Not as explained in a diorama that has been beautifully created by some museum curator somewhere.  Sadly, I think I was seeing it.  In my mind, an event like this would showcase the culture of the people living on the plains prior to the European invasion.  It might only be as it once was, even if little remains today.  Not unlike the Gaelic songs, or Irish Step Dancing at a St. Pat's celebration.  The thing is, there is usually info available at the step dances, and Gaelic sing-alongs, for any interested in learning.  In that way, the culture is passed on to another generation.

Hopefully, that was happening somewhere.  Maybe, this was an insiders game. Maybe this event was not publicized well, with purpose.  Maybe those who needed to know, and see, and do, got the info, and it was all happening away from outsiders' eyes.

On the one hand, I wouldn't blame them for wanting to keep their event private, for native peoples only.  On the other hand, I think it's a huge missed opportunity to tell their own story.  Cuz the story gets told, one way or the other, right?

Next post: Mary's Leaning Tree, Bapp, MT