Fort Belknap powwow is this weekend

The Gros Ventre and Assiniboine tribes of the Fort Belknap Indian Community will kick off their three-day, 52nd annual Milk River Indian Days Friday

“This is the major event of the year,” said Michael Horn Weasel, the flag bearer for the 2016 Milk River Dance Committee, which is tasked with organizing the powwow. “It’s a really big thing for the Assiniboine-Gros Ventre people.”

He said that each year, the powwow draws people from as far south as Oklahoma, east as New Jersey and north as Canada. Many of those participants and visitors are drawn home to take part in the festive celebration of song, dance and community.

This year he said will feature a total of 16 specials. These will include a men’s fancy dance, men’s grass dance and men’s traditional dance with a payout of $1,000 each.

Food and craft vendors will be present, showcasing and selling their products. Horn Weasel said that as of Wednesday morning, a steady stream of vendors were still calling to make arrangements but that the most they will be able to accommodate is a maximum of 15. He said that limit was close to being reached.

A new announcer stand on the reservation’s powwow grounds was completed Wednesday. Horn Weasel said the former structure and electrical wiring was unsafe and antiquated, so a contractor had to be brought in to do the work.

He said that the dance committee had to go about raising money for the project though it was later reimbursed by tribal council.

The powwow is planned as much as a year in advance,.Horn Weasel said that at least $34,000 has been raised through hosting weekly Bingo nights, the sale of raffle tickets, a silent auction and the sale of food items.

Such efforts have paid off, Horn Weasel said. Through. People, off-reservation businesses and tribal programs made financial or in-kind contributions for the event.

He said those contributors include Tilleman Chevrolet, Independence Bank and Gary & Leo’s Fresh Foods, all Havre businesses.

Horn Weasel said that money has been brought in through a variety of means. The committee has reached out and received monetary or in-kind contributions from off-reservation businesses, tribal programs, the Fort Belknap Community Council and individuals.

The event will go until about 1 a.m. on Monday at the powwow grounds on Highway 66, about a half-mile south of the agency in the reservation’s Half Town area,

Grand entries will take place Friday at 7 p.m., Saturday at 1 and 7 p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m.

Other events include a youth powwow Thursday at 5 p.m. at the powwow grounds.

A parade will start at 11 a.m. Friday. Participants will meet at the bingo hall and march together to the powwow grounds

A Mosquito Run race, a competition between different age groups, will take place.

Winners of two raffles, one for $1,000 and another for buffalo hunt at a yet-to-be-decided date this fall, will take place Sunday at 8 p.m. Tickets are $5 each, and proceeds will go toward next year’s powwow.