People near and far attend Rocky Boy celebration

People from throughout the U.S. and Canada flocked to Rocky Boy's Indian Reservation last week for the 53rd annual Rocky Boy Celebration, four days of events that included traditional dancing, songs, rodeos and other traditional events.

The rolling prairie around the arena was transformed into a dense encampment of vehicles, trailers, RVs, tents and teepees, as the incessant drum beats and songs sung in native languages echoed throughout the campgrounds.

People sat under the pavilion and watched from the bleachers as they raised smartphones to capture images of dancers young and old sporting their regalia,

Other people wandered, visiting vendors, and watching or playing an ongoing stick game.

Andrew Johnson, a Navajo who has lived in Havre for 12 years, said he comes every year, comparing the festive powwow scene to a family.

"You see a lot of celebrations with family, getting together and seeing each other from last season and they are hugging and laughing together and sharing a meal together," Johnson said, adding that the feeling of family transcends different tribes.

Johnson said he has gone to many powwows since he was a child, though his tribes have only recently started doing powwows.

Powwows are traditionally rooted in Plains culture, though they have started to catch on in other Indian communities, he said.

Michael Palma, a dancer who lives in Rapid City, South Dakota, was at the powwow, his first time, with his girlfriend.

"I have always wanted to come to Rocky Boy because of the drums, the people, and it has been a great experience," Palma, a drummer himself, said as he stood in his regalia by his car. "They got a lot of great drums here up north, these are some of the best drums."

Ashley Harris, a Comanche from Oklahoma and dancer was at the powwow with her fiance. Though she has come often to the Rocky Boy powwow she does not come every year. She said she admires the scenic beauty of the reservation and the atmosphere.

"The scenery is really beautiful. The mountains and then just the whole powwow vibe, a lot of good drummers and dancers," Harris said.

Harris has been dancing since she was a child. She said that during the summer she goes to at least one powwow each weekend. This past summer she has been to seven, including one in Alberta.

"To me it's an opportunity to express who I am and represent my tribe and enjoy myself and dance for people who cannot dance," Harris said.

Harris works as an administrative assistant on the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation where she lives. She says she has built up a lot of leave time which allows her to take long weekends to attend powwows.

She said all the travel can be hectic and tiring once she returns home and to work.

There were booths and vendors at the powwow selling everything from food products to crafts, jewelry and clothing and in some cases promoting organizations.

Donna Meyers, a non-Native woman from east Tennessee stood with several volunteers who were giving out free coffee, water and engaging people into conversation about Christianity. Meyers was at a tent for the Montana Indian Ministries based on the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation.

Meyers said she has not been to Rocky Boy for four years, but comes up every year to Montana from Tennessee to volunteer with the group.

"Rocky Boy is a great powwow. You have lots of people from different places. We see people from Canada here, from Arizona, from Utah, from the Dakotas, from Arizona, I mean everywhere," Meyers said.

Merchants who follow the powwow circuit also had a presence. Scott Moses, a Paiute from Oregon and owner of Skin Style, was at his stand selling athletic wear with Native designs.

He said business was good.

"A lot of folks here are really interested in athletic wear here," Moses said. "Must be a really, really good basketball community."