Past, future come together at Northern powwow

In 75 years of life, there are some things that have changed, but at the same time remained the same for Vermae Taylor.

For Taylor, a Sioux from Fort Peck, powwows have been one of these constants and those changes.

As she sat with her 4-year-old great-granddaughter Scarlett Brien eating strawberries in the bleachers of the Armory Gymnasium at Montana State University Northern late Saturday morning, she reminisced out loud about the powwows of her youth.

In many ways, those powwows were a far cry from the bright lights of the gymnasium and the loudspeaker system that amplified voices. They were the days of dirt or maybe wood floors and kerosene lamps.

"It wasn't anything like it is today," Taylor said.

During winter months, she said, she and other dancers would congregate inside a round hall, a round structure with a roof that peaked in the middle, made of cottonwood logs. In the summer, Taylor said, they would dance outside,

She said back then there were no prizes given out for dancing or singing.

"You just went to have fun and visit," Taylor said.

Now it is Scarlett whose hair is being braided and who wears the jingle dress and the bright regalia. Taylor said it is Scarlett's second year dancing, she will be doing the jingle dance.

Taylor said that she brought Scarlett to Northern for the 40th annual Sweetgrass Society Powwow to show her American Indian tradition and make memories.

"Because when I am gone she can say 'I remember when nana took me over here, and took me there and nana bought me this," she said.

But Taylor and Scarlett, were just one of the families in the gymnasium that day.

The powwow, organized by the MSU-Northern Sweetgrass Society, has worked to help others make memories and keep Native tradition alive for four decades. For two days on a weekend each spring, the campus pulsates with all the sights, sounds and practices of American Indian culture.

The drumming and songs like a heartbeat with the rhythms of life, as if waking from hibernation.

"It's a way to keep in touch and stay together and keep our traditions alive," said Mia Lamebull, president of the Sweetgrass Society.

Lamebull is an enrolled member of the Gros Ventre Tribe of Fort Belknap Indian Reservation, but grew up on Rocky Boy's Indian Reservation.

Lamebull said tribal members come from throughout the United States and Canada.

She was the president of the powwow last year.

Lamebull said she thinks they improved on last year's powwow. She said attendance is higher this year. Well-known powwow dancers and vendors were present this year.

"I just think we all worked just really hard for this," Lamebull said.