Montana's Indian reservations are rich strongholds of American Indian heritage. They are places where Indian culture can be experienced in sacred landscapes and at annual gatherings - where traditional dress is worn and rituals are performed as they have been for hundreds of years. Remarkable arts and crafts reflect a unique connection between Montana Indians and the natural world. Glacier Country is home to two of Montana's seven American Indian reservations, Blackfeet Indian Reservation and Flathead Indian Reservation.
Blackfeet Indian Reservation
The Blackfeet Reservation is home to the Blackfeet tribe. Of the approximately 15,560 enrolled tribal members, there are about 7,000 living on or near the reservation. Nearly 27 percent of enrolled members are of three-fourths or greater Indian blood. The Blackfeet Indians are commonly thought to have acquired their name because of the characteristic black color of their moccasins, painted or darkened with ashes.
The Blackfeet Reservation is located in northwestern Montana along the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains. Its one-and-a-half million acres are bordered on the north by Canada and on the west by Glacier National Park.
A manufacturing plant on the reservation produces pencils, pens and markers, while several other businesses operate under Siyeh Development, Inc. Major uses of the land are ranching and farming, with principle crops including wheat, barley and hay. With eight major lakes, 175 miles of fishing streams and four tribe-operated campgrounds, outdoor recreation is popular. Tribal permits are required and guides are available through Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks.
Points of Interest in the area are the Museum of the Plains Indian, Blackfeet Community College and the Blackfeet Historic Site Tour. The Hockaday Museum of Art has rotating exhibits highlighting Blackfeet Indians.
For more information visit www.blackfeetnation.com.
Pow Wow Celebration and Rodeos
North American Indian Days
The celebration in Browning, Montana, is always held the second week in July for four days. It is an intriguing way to see authentic Blackfeet traditions. Tipis are pitched on the Pow Wow grounds for contest dancing, games, sporting events and socializing. Comprising one of the largest gatherings of United States and Canadian tribes, the celebration is an unforgettable experience. Once you hear and feel the mystery of the drum, see the traditional and fancy dancing, and the many proud Native people, then you will begin to understand the Blackfeet. Held at Agency Square in Browning. For more information call 406-338-4388 or visit www.blackfeetnation.com.
The Heart Butte Celebration
This annual four day celebration takes place the second week in August and is 26 miles south of Browning in the community of Heart Butte, which is located on the Blackfeet Reservation. Heart Butte is one of the oldest traditional communities of the Blackfeet Reservation. More than 60 houses are clustered around the old sub agency, established about 1915. Many residents remain on the original allotments of their ancestors in the surrounding area. For more information, call 406-338-7521 or visit www.blackfeetnation.com.
Flathead Indian Reservation
The Flathead Indian Reservation is home to the Confederated Salish and Kootenai tribes. The tribes are a combination of the Salish, the Pend d'Oreille and the Kootenai. Of the approximately 7,005 enrolled tribal members, about 4,500 live on or near the reservation.
Located north of Interstate 90 between Missoula and Kalispell, fertile valleys and towering mountain peaks of northwest Montana surround the Flathead Reservation. The reservation comprises over 1.2 million acres.
The principle sources of income for the tribes are derived from its timber industry sales and from revenues paid to the tribes through the co-license for the Kerr Dam facility with North Western Energy. The tribes are also partners in a full-service resort and casino in Polson and a tribal corporation called S&K Holding, which operates a number of income producing enterprises as well as offering business loans to tribal members.
Points of interest in the area are the Cultural Center "The People's Center", Flathead Lake State Park, The National Bison Range/Pablo National Wildlife Refuge, Ninepipe National Wildlife Refuge and State Wildlife Management Area, St. Ignatius Mission and the Salish Kootenai College.
For more information visit www.cskt.org.
Pow Wow Celebrations and Rodeos
Annual Arlee 4th of July Celebration held the 4th of July weekend each year, this has been held continuously for over a century. Encampment, competition dancing, drumming and singing, traditional stickgames and card games, food concessions, and arts and crafts vendors are part of the event.
Standing Arrow Pow Wow held the 3rd weekend in July each year. This is an Indian social gathering featuring drumming, dancing and traditional dress and food. Visitors are welcome and asked to respect the dance area which is sacred. For more information, call (406) 849-5888.
Pow Wow
Shouts echo high and low, drumbeats bounce off nearby canyon walls, and bright colors float and dazzle with every footstep. These are the sights and sounds of a American Indian Pow Wow, a time-honored event repeated many times every year throughout Glacier Country. But most remarkably, beneath all this sensory phenomena is a story that goes back generations. Chances are you'll hear it only here, where several distinct tribes perform their own Pow Wow, speak their own language and honor their own traditions. Together they tell stories no roadside sign could hint at. This tradition is about generosity and giving. A Pow Wow is a chance to reflect on who the American Indian people are. When celebrating their heritage remember a couple simple etiquette tips. Be patient, events might not always start exactly at the time indicated in the program. Make sure to ask permission before taking any photos of any person, especially during a ceremony.
