Local Students Recognize Native American Week

Wolf Point students recognized Native American Week with an annual powwow at the Wadopana Arbor on Thursday afternoon, Sept. 25.

“It’s a pretty important part of our culture,” Lance FourStar, who served as the emcee at the event, said.

He described the activity which included dancing and praying as a celebration of life. “It’s a celebration of the school spirit,” FourStar explained.

The program started with Wolf Point’s homecoming royalty and athletes walking around the arena during a flag ceremony.

“It’s showing the leadership of the student body,” FourStar said.

Activities included a potato dance and a teachers’ dance. Two quality drum groups performed during the event.

“The main thing is to go out there and have fun,” he said.

Kayla Messerly and Angela Swenson, advisors of the Wolf People club in Wolf Point, organized the activities throughout the special week.

“Native American Day should be every day, but this week is especially a time to acknowledge it,” FourStar stressed.

FourStar was one of the guest speakers to kick off Native American Week at Northside Elementary School on Monday, Sept. 22. The morning included putting up a tipi.

“It was the kids who did all the work,” FourStar said. “It was important that they did that. It was hands-on.”

At Southside Elementary School, Principal Brandi Burshia along with Jason Martell led instruction of how to put up a tipi.

Courage Crawford and Bryor Smith led the tipi raising at Wolf Point Junior/Senior High School.