By Alan Sorensen
The Chippewa Cree Tribe began a full week of activities on Rocky Boys Reservation Monday morning in honor of Native American Week. The activities will conclude Saturday with a parade, community feed, and mini pow-wow and awards ceremony.
Most of the activities from Sept. 20-25 are being held at the Rocky Boy Powwow Grounds.
Each day begins with an opening prayer at 8 a.m. followed by the color guards and flag raising ceremony and the opening of arts and crafts and concessions.
A potluck breakfast was held from 9-10 a.m. Monday. Cultural speakers were featured from 10 a.m. to noon and from 3 to 4 p.m. Monday and 9 to noon and 2 to 4 p.m. Tuesday. A horseshoe tournament sponsored by Tony Belcourt is planned for 9-10 a.m. Wednesday. Cultural speakers are scheduled for 10-noon and 1-4 p.m.
Cultural speakers are set for 9-10 a.m. Thursday, with foot races sponsored by the Chippewa Cree Health Board planned for 10 to noon. Cultural speakers are scheduled for 2-4 p.m. Thursday. The races may be switched to 2 p.m.
Cultural speakers will give presentations from 9 to 10 a.m. and from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Cultural speakers are scheduled again from 2 to 4 p.m. Friday.
Highlights of the week include cooking contests from noon to 1 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Monday was bread making, Tuesday was berry preparation, Wednesday is soups and Thursday is meat preparation, all sponsored by the CCDC.
An arrow contest sponsored by Natural Resources was held from 1 to 2 p.m. Monday. A hand game tournament sponsored by the handgame committee was sponsored from 1 to 2 p.m. Tuesday.
Traditional Dress Day and Traditional Elder Dress Day are set for 1-2 p.m. Thursday and an Indian relay race sponsored by Water Resources is set for 1-2 p.m. Friday.
A baby contest sponsored by Social Services was held from 2 to 3 p.m. Monday.
Doorway swing will be held every evening Monday through Friday with music talent contests Monday and Tuesday sponsored by the Chemical Dependency Center. A Horse Dance Ceremony sponsored by Russell Standing Rock is set for Wednesday, a Prairie Chicken Dance sponsored by the Pow-Wow Committee will be held Thursday, and a Round Dance Hand Drum contest is set for Friday under the auspices of Stone Child College.
Saturdays parade will begin at 1 p.m., with the community feed sponsored by the Senior Citizens Center planned for 3-4 p.m.
The mini pow-wow and awards ceremony will be held Saturday evening at the powwow grounds.
