Tribal Health Effort Students Race During First Tipi Challenge

A different type of race took place at the Wolf Point High School football field on Wednesday, Oct. 2. A tipi challenge featured four teams trying to put together their own tipi in a maximum time of 15 minutes.

Organizer Donovan “Beef” Archambault explained that Phoebe Blount of Fort Peck tribal health’s suicide awareness and intervention program asked him to come up with an activity to excite students and promote cultural identity.

“To try to really establish cultural identity in youth, we would to get their attention,” Archambault said. He noted students love to race so he suggested the tipi challenge.

Officials went to the high schools in Wolf Point, Poplar, Frazer and Brockton the previous week and taught the students how to build a tipi. The students were taught that a tipi is similar to life since a strong foundation is needed.

“All of these teachings went into that,” Archambault said.

On a close decision by judges, the Poplar team featuring Angelina Escarcega, Mattie Falls Down, Navarjo Escarcega and Kaniel Ricker earned first place. The Wolf Point team of Michael Bell, Keeley Henderson- Blount, Ameilya Doney and Kasey Reed were judged to take second place.

Archambault provided the winning team with an 18-foot tipi for their school.

“We will try to carry this on next year and the next year after that,” Archambault said. “It will take time to grow.”