This coming January 30th through February 4th the Fort Belknap Indian Community will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Mid Winter Fair. Many locals remember when the Mid Winter Fair began. Allie Young served on the fair coordinating committee beginning in 1984. She said in a 2015 interview, "As best I can recall it was initiated by some ladies from Lodge Pole who saw the Fair as a way to deal with winter 'cabin fever.'" Over the years some changes were made but the basic format remains the same...weekday events beginning on Monday and culminating with the Powwow on Saturday.

The beginning of the Mid Winter Fair

Liz Werk, the current FCS Extension Agent for Fort Belknap, said she thought Grace Miller, an extension agent in the late 1960's, got the inaugural Fair organized. Other seniors mentioned Don Addy, a former extension agent now deceased, was also a mainstay of the Fair for thirty years.

In the early years the fair was largely an art and culinary event-an opportunity for the community to show its art work and lots of exhibits featuring food. More recently many of the events are aimed at engaging youth in their community and native culture. Caroline Yellowrobe, a current grant writer for the community, said recently, "Now the Fair provides experiences for both the youth and older community members to celebrate their native culture." The cadre of volunteers changed over the years but their enthusiasm for the Fair has held strong for half a century.

This year's special 50th anniversary edition

The six-day fair will follow its standard schedule with set up on Monday and Tuesday, an opening ceremony on Wednesday, Youth Day on Friday and the Powwow on Saturday. Most events will be at the old Bingo Hall.

Fair organizers are planning some special events for this year's golden anniversary including an opportunity for families to display important items from their family history on table displays at the Fair. There will also be a presentation at the opening ceremony about the 50-year history of the Mid Winter Fair. Ed Doney will present the historical piece about the Fair during the opening ceremony.

An invitation has already gone out for families to set up a family booth in the main area of the Bingo Hall. Suggested materials to share through the displays at the family booths include "families' accomplishments, such as rodeo events, Powwow Dance Contests, Quilting awards, Education Academic awards, etc." Families wishing to reserve a family booth are asked to call Extension at 353-2656 or email: ewerk@montana.edu.

Yellowrobe said during the Powwow on Saturday there would be a special recognition for people and organizations that provided support for this year's golden anniversary Fair. She said, "We know some of the supporters of the Fair have never been to a Powwow. We want to have them here to experience the Powwow and we will perform a special honor song for them." Among major support for this year's Fair was a $5000 gift from the Burlington Northern foundation.

This year's Mid Winter Fair will run January 30th through February 4th. According to Yellowrobe an event program is currently being printed and should be available shortly. Readers can call Fort Belknap Extension at 353-2656 for a program. Programs should be available at other locations around the area including at the ONAP Building in New Town at Fort Belknap.

The "Journal" congratulates the Fort Belknap Indian Community for achieving this Golden Anniversary with a great community event. It's a time when everyone can enjoy a little break from 'cabin fever.'