Planning continues for Great Northern Fair powwow

Plans for a powwow and associated events at this year’s Great Northern Fair are beginning to crystalize after a meeting between Great Northern Fairgrounds Manager Frank English and representatives from the Chippewa Cree Tribe and Northern Winz Hotel and Casino, the primary host of the events.

After meeting at the fairgrounds and seeing the space they had to work with Loni Taylor of the Chippewa Cree Business Committee said the Thursday of fair week would likely host either a comedy act or a teepee demonstration, but plans still need to be made and a lot is still up in the air.

She said the powwow itself would likely be on Saturday and Sunday of the fair, with two sessions Saturday and one Sunday.

Josh Seaton of the Chippewa Cree Community Development Corp. said they haven’t determined the time for the powwow’s grand entry — when all the performers and artists will make their appearance before dividing into categories — but the event itself will be a demonstration of the art and culture of local Native people.

He and Northern Winz Hotel and Casino Marketing Director Ree OldBull said the event is meant to bring people together and everyone, Native and otherwise, is encouraged to attend.

“Everyone is more than welcome to come,” Oldbull said.

Northern Winz Hotel and Casino Gaming Commissioner Rebekah Jarvey said the powwow will have a special significance to Native people in the area since the pandemic effectively canceled every powwow in the state for the past 18 months.,

“It will be a really emotional event, and it’s something that our community really needs,” Jarvey said.

She said going so long without a powwow has been hard on a lot of people in the community given their significance as cultural traditions.

“It’s been really hard because it’s such a big part of our way of life,” she said. “... Spiritually it has affected a lot of people.”

She said the casino and the tribe appreciate the fair for letting them hold the event, and all present said they hope it will inspire a feeling of unity between the people of Rocky Boy, Havre and beyond.

The event will also feature food vendors who will be selling Indian tacos, nachos and casino foods, as well as a variety of fry bread dishes.

Taylor said safety precautions for COVID-19 including social distancing and mask-wearing are highly encouraged at the event.

She, and the representatives of Northern Winz, said there is still a lot of planning, fundraising, advertising, sponsor seeking and general organizing that will need to be done between now and the event, but they are all excited.

Jarvey said people looking to stay up to date can follow the Northern Winz Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/NorthernWinzCasino .