Powwows continue to be tradition for Lamebull family

Mike Lamebull has gone to powwows throughout his life, and he continued the tradition this past Saturday when he was at the 41st Annual Montana State University-Northern Sweetgrass Society Powwow with his family.

"My grandmother used to take me to powwows," said Mike Lamebull, a member of the Gros Ventre Tribe who lives on Rocky Boy's Indian Reservation with his wife, Lisa Crain.

Lamebull, 62, helped his grandsons Mason Lamebull, 15, and J'Reece Sutherland, 8, dressed in bright regalia, prepare to take part in the dancing.

He said that his two grandsons have been going to powwows "since they could walk."

"I want them to learn about their culture," Lamebull said.

The regalia his grandsons wear had been worn by Lamebull's great-grandfather, who had been a pipe carrier.   

Powwows are more than entertainment, but are spiritual and help American Indians cope with other hardships they face, Lamebull said.

He said powwows have gotten larger and more competitive since he was young.

Lamebull's daughter Mia Lamebull, a junior at Northern and the Sweetgrass Society treasurer, said she has gone to powwows throughout North America and considers herself a regular powwow person. She said that she often attended the powwow at Northern when she was growing up.

"It's close to home," Mia Lamebull said

Last year as president, she said, she played a larger role in organizing the powwow but as treasurer this year, she had a smaller role.

"I get to see a lot of my friends and family more. I've got to visit more than I had in the past few years," she said.

Lamebull said she thinks the number of people this year was greater than last year. The Sweetgrass Society Powwow moved up the powwow this year from late April to late March.

Fundraising for the powwow began in September, but Lamebull said that this year it didn't start in earnest until January. She said the group raised money through silent auctions and Indian taco sales. This year the powwow had 35 sponsors.

Lamebull said Northern has a large number of Native American students and the powwow is a way for those students to make their presence known.

"Native Americans are a huge part of MSU-Northern," she said. "You may not see us all the time, but we are here. We are still a part of Northern and this is our part. This is what we bring to that, we bring the powwow."