Indian Days Concludes Fort Peck Powwows
The Poplar Indian Days celebration marked a conclusion to the 2021 powwow season on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation. The schedule featured three full days Sept. 3-5 with grand entries Friday night and twice on Saturday and Sunday. Tribal Executive Board member Patt Runs Through told the Northern Plains Independent that the event was a celebration of hope and an opportunity for healing.
“It was a time of healing,” said Runs Through, “a time together for families, to remember the ones who have left us. It was a time to love. A time of forgiving and each dancer and each drum brought that to the Circle of True Native Families.”
Along with the main dance categories and specials, organizers hosted a tipi race, several walk/run events, naming ceremonies, a plains warrior challenge, a candlelight vigil in support of programs to help prevent suicide, drug abuse and alcoholism and dance in support of missing and murdered indigenous women featuring participants dressed in red.
Head woman dancer Laureen Combs of Poplar said the committee asked her to participate after tragedy stuck her family last year.
“My husband was head man but as his son was murdered he stepped back,” said Combs. Cody Weeks-Combs, 28, was fatally wounded on Friday, Nov. 27, in Wolf Point. Doratello “DJ” Juan Fischer was charged by a federal grand jury in 2020 for first degree murder in the case. His trial has been postponed.
Asked what stood out from the weekend, Combs said, “All the happy faces and so much joy!”
Committee officers included advisors Maureen and Rick Dionne, flag bearer Tom Escarcega Sr, treasurers Greg and Mary Plante, secretary Connie Thompson, lodge keeper Raymond “Abby” Ogle, drum keeper Jalen Atchico, announcers Charlie Moran and Donny Speidel and arena director Raymond Olson.
The celebration princess was Kylie Walking Hawk. Princess first attendant was Miley Crawford. Princess second attendant was Darrlyn Bull Chief. Junior princess was Sarah Weeks. Junior first attendant was Laila Lovan. Junior princess second attendant was Heartly Crawford. Jaydyn Coughlin was mini princess. Renlee Archambault was mini princess first attendant and Brylee Eder was traveling princess.
In the women’s golden age category, Gracie Her Many Horses of Bakersfield, N.D., placed first, followed by Melinda Goodwill of Jumping Deer Creek, SK, Gina Redhouse of Mesa, Ariz., and Luanne Kicking Woman of Missoula. Jonthan Windy Boy of Rocky Boy won men’s golden age, followed by Andrew Windy Boy, Myron Hoops of Harlemand Ronnie Ahbadeh of Anadarko, OK.
In women’s jingle, Hokian Wia McCloud of Harrah, Wash., placed first, followed by Sunshine Hayes of Rapid City, SD, Kenderina Red House of Newtown, ND and Jourdan Hoops-Lovan of Poplar. Women’s traditional saw Thea McCloud of Harrah, Wash., in first, followed by Andi Gray of Havre, Chelysa Cyr of Wolf Point and Gabriella Weinberger of Poplar.
Verna Alex of Fort Totten, N.D., won teen girls’ fancy. Tamyah Mount of Billings placed second, followed by Macyquinn Johnson of Warm Springs, Ore., and Keeala Walsey of Tuba City, Ariz. In teen girls’ jingle, Skye Hayes of Rapid City, S.D., placed first, followed by Courtney Spotted Wolf of Brockton, Tasha McCloud of Harrah, Wash., and Tahini Thunder Child of Poplar. Tessa C. Ab- bey of Mandareem, N.D., placed first in teen girls’ traditional, followed by Georgia Alex of Fort Totten, N.D., and Kahloni Hoops of Poplar.
Junior girls’ fancy saw Brockton’s Gracie Lambert in front, followed by Makenna Bird, also of Brockton, Stephanie Brown of Window Rock, Ariz., and Singing Above Fast Horse of Poplar. Meah Little Sky of White Shield, N.D., placed first in junior girls’ jingle, followed by Janaeya Moran of Poplar, Jocilyn Gray of Fort Belknap and Quintana Young of Poplar. Jazzy Red Tomahawk of Billings won junior girls’ traditional, followed by Ataya Little Sky of White Shield, N.D., Aiyanna Eder of Poplar and Eliana Young, also of Poplar.
Men’s fancy saw Rae Scott of Window Rock, Ariz., in front, followed by Bucky Johnson of Livingston, Texas, and Kasen Street of Saint Michael, N.D. Trae LIttle Sky of White Shield, N.D., won men’s grass. Kelsey Haywaha of Poplar. placed second. Hunter Street of Saint Michael, N.D., was third and Cortez Osborne of Browning came in fourth.
Russell McCloud of Harrah, Wash., won men’s traditional. Donavan Abbey of Mandaree, N.D., placed second. He was followed by James Red Tomahawk of Billings and John Richards of Allen, S.D.
In teen men’s fancy, Vincent Obey of Regina, Sask., was in front, followed by Kenneth Brown Jr of Window Rock, Ariz., Trevor Yuzicappi and Apollo Johnson of Warm Springs, Ore. Alexander Windy Boy of Rocky Boy won teen men’s grass, followed by Poplar’s Aiden Spotted Elk and Ronald Fast Horse, both of Poplar, and Troy Ewack. Rusty McCloud of Harrah, Wash., won teen men’s traditional, followed by Weston Lambert of Brockton, Colter Nygard, Brockton and Wanbi Growing Thunder of Riverside.
Tefton Bear of Brockton won junior boys’ fancy, followed by Braxton Crawford of Poplar, Tokala Little Sky of White Shield, N.D., and Tyson Craft of Brockton. Donald Iceman and Nadden Spotted Wolf of Poplar placed first and second respectively in junior boys’ grass, followed by Chazke Windy Boy of Rocky Boy and Dane Moran of Poplar. Brockton’s Colton Roberts won junior boys’ traditional, followed by AJ Mazawasicuna of Poplar and Julian Rider of Fort Belknap.
