The Blaine County Journal News-Opinion - We've Got The County Covered

The Sweet Home was the place to be this past Friday. In honor of Native American Heritage month, Native Connections, Tiwahe and Nakoda Aaniiih Economic Development Corporation (NAEDC) visited to “amplify indigenous dances for the people. Showcased were the Fancy, Traditional and Grassdance following with our Elders.”

Jeremy Ritchie who mentors through NAEDC highlighted the youth who are at the core of their powwows. “It is the youth who do everything from budgeting to all the background tasks behind the scenes,” he said. “Our job as mentors is to guide them and let them lead. The powwow brings the community together, and it’s the youth doing everything.”

“When they do everything, and we give them guidance, they’re able to stay humble. I feel confident that when I get older, these kids are going to take care of me and our community.”

Some of the kids don’t have father figures, so the male mentors help out and try to be actively involved in their lives. “I kind of just help out, whether it’s spiritually, physically, with their health or with their mental well-being,” said Ritchie.

“We need more men to become mentors. There are a few on the board and who participate with the youth, and we have a lot of women involved. More and more kids are coming, so along with their families and the elders we are breaking that generational curse.”

Ritchie emphasizes that all kids are welcome and that his open door policy applies to everyone, not just natives. “Whoever wants to open up and be part of something and to have ownership of their culture is welcome. We’ll practice our culture, and on the outside, if someone wants to bring something to the table, we’re going to embrace that also.”

The organizations offer activities on and off the reservation. “We do a lot of stuff over at Dodson High School and Harlem,” said Ritchie. Before he started with NAEDC, Ritchie was the Tawahi Culture Coordinator. That’s the Nakoda word for family, and Ritchie is all about family.

Hannah Has Eagle is from Lodge Pole in Fort Belknap. She works at the Tribal Health Department and is a suicide prevention advocate. She works 24/7 in this effort. “When I get a call I go wherever I get calls from, including out of town to Billings and Great Falls. We also talk to people on the phone and with Zoom and technology.”

Has Eagle also works throughout the area bringing together people from all four of the tribe’s districts, the Agency area, Dodson, Lodge Pole and Hays. Since it’s Heritage month, Has Eagle made the visit to the Sweet Home a priority. “I wanted to get out to the broader community. This was my dream, to dance for all you people that are here in the rest home,” she said. Her goal is to go to more rest homes in the future.

“We don’t want to keep you waiting,” she said to the crowd assembled for the dancers. “We feel that we bring healing to you and make you feel good and give you energy. We gathered all these kids here for you. Some of their parents made their regalia and I made regalia for some of them. Some of the bigger boys are brand new and they want to dance for you.”

Has Eagle also introduced her workers and their new drum group, the Young Guns. “They’re all freshly new,” she said. “They all got together and want to sing so we are collaborating with them.”

With that the dancers and the drummers led the dances, ending with the round dance and spreading healing and joy to all.