Cultural Fair Hosts Student Visits
Cultural Preservation Officer director Dyan Youpee told the Northern Plains Independent that the annual cultural fair hosted by her office and THPO had, “another successful year.” The annual event features educational stations with staff and volunteers teaching about traditional tribal culture, dances and foods, fire managements, horsemanship and other subjects. The fair was created in 1995 by her father Curley.
“The point of this fair was to invite federal/state land managers to bring a piece of our ancestral lands to us,” Youpee said via social media post, “so we may reconnect, as many of us might not travel ‘there’ in our lifetime.”
Over a thousand students from area school districts were slated to attend presentations on local archeology, food sovereignty, Fort Peck Tribal history, traditional medicines and modern tribal health, dance and language lessons, tipi construction, star dome stories and presentations by staff from firefighting agencies and Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks.
Youpee said that attendees at this year were respectful and engaged. “All the kids were well behaved and participated,” Youpee said Sept. 25. She said students from Scobey and Vida were particularly enthusiastic. “They warhooped,” she said. “They lele’d, sang, danced and even kept beat during hand games. Made my heart happy.”
For information about next year’s fair, email Youpee at d.youpee@fortpecktribes. net. or call 406768-2382.
