The People
Tribal Report of the Northern Cheyenne Nation (July 2006 Vol. I No. 8)
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38th Annual Cheyenne Chief’s Powwow a Success and Better Managed
2006 Chief’s Powwow Committee The Northern Cheyenne Chief’s Powwow Celebration 2006 was the Tribe’s 38th anniversary of the event. The powwow is now the Tribe’s largest annual cultural social gathering on the reservation and remains the one event where the Tribe recognizes all Northern Cheyenne Veterans and also welcomes home the numerous off-Reservation Tribal members. This year’s powwow was another success due to the volunteer commitment of the Powwow Committee and local expertise of the Head Staff. It was the second year the Powwow Committee organized, planned and fundraised for this event and found it as an opportunity to learn even more about the process and protocol of the Cheyenne powwow culture. The Committee started meeting in early January 2006 and attributes the event’s success to being well prepared and aggressively fundraising. The Committee achieved the main goal of showcasing our Tribe’s powwow ways while ensuring that facility and camping accommodations were made easily available for all Tribal members and visitors. Prior to 2005, previous Powwow Committees failed to raise enough money for the event and usually required the Tribe’s financial assistance. Additionally, past Committees were not accountable for such Tribal funds allocated to the event by not producing any kind of narrative reports or financial		statements to reflect the overspending of funds or any revenues generated. As a result of past Powwow Committees and their oblivious mismanagement and blatant misuse of funds for the “Armed Veteran Powwow Celebrations”, the Northern Cheyenne Tribal Council passed Tribal Resolution No. 33 (05) that made specific the manner in which powwow money would be spent and further allowed the Committee to fundraise on the Tribe’s behalf in order to generate sufficient funds for a successful event. This Tribal Resolution also officially changed the name of the powwow to the “Northern Cheyenne Chief’s Powwow Celebration.” Originally the Fourth of July Powwow was sponsored and organized by the Tribe’s Chiefs and the first powwow was held in the Ashland District. Later the event was relocated to Lame Deer District and the powwow arbor named after one of the event’s first Master of Ceremonies and organizers, Kenneth Beartusk. Again food vendors dominated the powwow with a few selling Native jewelry, Rasta retail and other novelties. The Parade had a special quest appearance by the Montana State Governor Brian Schweitzer who rode along with Tribal President Eugene Little Coyote. Tribal Report of the Northern Cheyenne Nation (July 2006 Vol. I No. 8), page 12.
Northern Cheyenne Oral Language Immersion Camp Underway
Tribal Report Staff The 2006 Northern Cheyenne Language Immersion Camp is under way this July at Crazy Head Springs. The Camp is sponsored by Chief Dull Knife college Cultural Affairs Department with financial Support provided by the Rural Systemic Initiative (RSI). Burt Medicine Bull was responsible for acquiring the funds from the RSI. The RSI Grant is all about math and science, so the curriculum for the camp had to be centered on it. Students learn their language as well as constellations and engage in other scientific activities. The instructors utilize Total Physical Response (TPR) when teaching the language. TPR is the teaching methodology where commands are used with actions so learners internalize the language. TPR is to be taking place with each class time. The language camp began on July 17^th and will end on July 28^th with a traditional buffalo feast. This year’s camp has a total of 38 students which is good after one week. Events in the camp included Tipi raising, storytelling, camp fire, war dancing, traditional signing, dry-meat cutting, arrow throwing contests, berry picking, Ethnobotany (Traditional Plant studies), Traditional Cheyenne games, hand game, sign language, and swimming.		St. Labre Catholic School is supporting the camp by providing the transportation to the Devil’s Tower, as well as to the showers and swimming at Soaring Eagle gym. The program was unable to send the kids to Devil’s Tower or on any major field trip without St. Labre Mission’s support this year. The meager budget just did not allow for a major trip. The American Indian Relief Council donated some food and supplies to the camp, which really helped out with the budget as well. Stacey Fisher and Linwood Tallbull slaughtered the buffalo for the feast on the 28th. Imogene Dewey and Edward Bearquiver were the official dry meat cutters. The Camp Staff includes cooks: Julie Elkshoulder, Rob McConnell, and Chad Elkshoulder; Security: Joyce Wounded Eye, Allen Pine, and Floyd Clubfoot; Maintenance: Willis Busenitz; Northern Cheyenne Language Instructors: Robert Shot Gunn, Imelda Barney, Alvera Cook, George Elkshoulder, Douglas Spotted Eagle, Larry Medicine Bull, and Rebecca Little Sun; and guest Southern Cheyenne Language Instructors: Ruth White Skunk, Carol White Skunk, Joyce Twins, Thalia Twins, Wanda Whiteman, and Menita Running Water. Tribal Report of the Northern Cheyenne Nation (July 2006 Vol. I No. 8), page 12.
Powwow Pictures
North Bear Singers Mystic River Singers Intertribal dancing Grand Entry Intertribal dancing Intertribal dancing Women’s Traditional Grand Entry Grand Entry Victory Dancing
All Photographs Copyright Tribal Report of the Northern Cheyenne Nation (July 2006 Vol. I No. 8), page 12.
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