Season Wraps Up With Indian Days

A good time was had by all at Poplar Indian Days Labor Day Weekend Celebration this year, according to powwow treasurer Mary Plante.

“It was good,” Plante told this newspaper. “All the specials were good. Everybody had a good time.”

Indian Days is the last of seven powwows held on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation each year.

Plante said attendance has been steady for several years running and participation in this wide variety of specials remain high. She said the celebration saw excellent weather throughout and wrapped up well before rains saturated the area late Sunday evening and Monday morning.

“It was good all the way through,” she said. “It was hot and muggy during the day, but it was fine.”

A planned community yard sale, vendor show and farmers market in the Poplar River Casino parking lot were well attended. “The parking lot was pretty full over there and there were a lot of people,” Plante said. “You could see them walking around.”

Tommy Christian did the honors as emcee and a small army of volunteers contribute to making the event a success, especially Mary and Greg Plante, Connie Thompson and Maureen Dionne. Officers included flag bearer Nando Silvers, lodge keeper Kris and Stacie Fourstar, drum keeper Jalen Atchico and arena director Raymond Olson. Grand entries were held all three days and a camping day was held Thursday, including a youth dance and community feed. A candlelight ceremony was held Friday night at dusk.

The host drum was Fort Peck Sioux, but there were many drum groups in attendance.

Royalty for the celebration included princess Mila Gramling, junior princess Brylee Eder, junior princess first attendant Amber Stump, junior princess second attendant Mesa Gramling, mini princess Isla Ann Wagner, mini princess first attendant Greer Edith Wagner, traveling princess Makenzie Crawford and junior traveling princess Oaklee Grayhawk Lance Chase was head man dancer and Chelysa Owens-Cyr was head woman dancer.

For information about next year’s celebration, call 406-768-8738 or 406406-650-4694.