Living on the Road with Dwain, Debbie and Ozzie: CROW FAIR...

Let the celebration begin...

Well this was certainly worth the wait...the 95 annual Crow Fair, held in Montana about 12 miles S. of Hardin on the Crow Nation. This fair was started in 1904 and has continued to grow each year, it traditionally starts the 3rd Thursday in August each year. It is also referred to as the Tee Pee Capital of the world, there were approximately 1200 to 1500 tee pees scattered throughout the encampment. There is also an all Indian Rodeo during the Crow Fair Thurs. thru Sun., at 1p.m. each day. Not only do you have your regular rodeo events there also is the Indian Relay Race which is so exhilarating as well as some traditional horse races. There rodeo is a bargain only $5.00, and the food is CHEAP. The Opening Ceremony started Thurs. evening at 6p.m., this is held in this huge arbor area with the Grand Entry. This leads off with the Color Guard, their Royal Court and then the Tribal dancers in all their colorful regalia. This is so awesome what a site, I am so grateful to have witnessed this in person. Friday thru Sunday they held a morning parade where there were so many floats, Indians on horseback and alot of candy being thrown out to the kids that were bystanders. Did I mention that they had a large selection of food as well as vendors selling their Native American jewelry and crafts at the Crow Fair, I don't want to leave that out. I didn't buy much...just LOADS of food and this great strawberry-lemonaide. So much for that diet right!!! They have this stuff called Indian Fry Bread, yea you all have had it, I now have indulged in this tasty treat...man is it good with sugar and honey, and Dwain even liked it!!!

Prince is in the middle he is a Men's Traditional Crow dancer

I was so fortunate to set our chairs up the first morning next to the nicest Crow family, Linda and Grant Bulltail. They had their children and grandchildren their taking part in the festivities as well as Linda and her grandson took part in dancing. What a very sweet and beautiful women Linda is, and extremely patient with me as I was asking her question after question for 4 straight days, trying to

Men's Grass Dancer

grasp this amazing culture. Our first day I asked one of their grandchildren if he was Crow and he said "yes", and then turned and said "are you Crow", I laughed removed my sunglasses and said "no, I wish, I am what they call a mixed dog, a mutt I have no heritage or culture to embrace", he laughed and laughed. It really is so wonderful that they have a culture and heritage to pass on from generation to generation, and so many families still embrace it by taking part in such things as the Crow Fair Pow Wow. The dancers have many nights of competition. There are various categories (traditional, jingle dress, fancy shawl, fancy feather, grass, fancy prairie chicken, and crow), as well as different age groups (tiny tots 0-5, juniors 6-11, teens 12-17, adults 18-64, and golden age 65 and up), these groups and categories are separated also by sex. Everywhere you look there are brightly colored fabrics, feathers and headdresses. There are multiple Native American drum groups around the arbor that consist of 8-12 members each, that are called out to sing and play for dance groups, and what a joyful sound they make. As groups are dancing spectators will run up to a competitor and throw money on the ground before them, this is in a sense a bribe to the judge an encouragement of your vote. Of course Dwain had to run all the way across the arbor to get to this guy named Prince to give his vote, we had met him in Sheridan during their Pow Wow and he is a great dancer.

Mens Fancy Feather Dancer

It's been a great 17 days here, but it is time to move on...our next stop is Livingston Montana, we will be doing alot of fly fishing up there so...stay tuned till next time