“We got the go-ahead last night, so we have about a week to put it together,” said Gerald Cooper, a member of the Heart Butte Society and organizer of this year’s edition of the Heart Butte Society Celebration (HBSC).

Distinct from North American Indian Days, HBSC was begun in 1992 with the revival of the Heart Butte Society. In this, their 19th year, HBSC promises to retain its traditional character while providing a final chance for people to celebrate the summer season.

The Celebration starts on Wednesday, Aug. 11, with Heart Butte Youth Day. Registration starts at 8 a.m. at Heart Butte School, and an opening ceremony and blessing follow. The Health Walk and Run is set for 9 a.m., and the Pet and Doll Parade starts at 10 a.m., with prizes for the winners.

A stage will be available for the noon Talent Show and Barbecue, with invitations to all local song and dance talent to perform. Games fill the afternoon, with awards being presented at 2 p.m., and the closing ceremony and cleanup are set for 3:30 p.m.

For more information about Heart Butte Youth Day, call Betty Cooper at 338-5993 or the Boys and Girls Club at 338-2748.

Following Youth Day at Heart Butte School, there will be a blessing of the HBSC grounds and a feed for the elders, starting at 6 p.m. on Wednesday.

Events get underway on Thursday, with showers available from then until Sunday from 8 a.m. to 12 noon at Heart Butte Schools. Dance and drum registration starts at 5 p.m. Thursday, and the first Grand Entry and an evening of social dancing runs from 7 to 9:30 p.m.

Dancers and drummers can continue to register at noon on Friday, Aug. 13, and the point system begins for dancers at the 1 p.m. Grand Entry. Tiny Tots are slated to dance at 2 p.m., and contest dancing for juniors and teens runs from 2:30 to 3.

The Mary (Sinclair) Running Crane Giveaway starts at 3, and the crowning of the new HBSC Royalty takes place at 4. Outgoing Tiny Tot Princess Sadee Cree Medicine has a giveaway set for 4:30, followed by outgoing Junior Princess Alia Kipp’s giveaway at 5 p.m.

Supper break runs from 6 to 6:45; then it’s Grand Entry time at 7 p.m., and the point system starts for drum groups. A triple giveaway is set for 7:30 p.m., presented by outgoing Senior Princess Raelynn Calf Boss Ribs, Montana Rep. Frosty Calf Boss Ribs and Evelyn (Comes At Night) No Runner.

The Willie Sharp Jr. and family Dance Special starts at 8:30 p.m., featuring Men’s Traditional dancing for those 18 and older. Friday evening ends with Golden Age and Adult contest dancing, starting around 9:30.

The HBSC Parade is the focus Saturday morning, with the lineup at Government Square by the Senior Citizens Center. The parade heads out at 11 a.m.

Stickgame registration starts at 12 noon at the Stickgame Arbor, and Saturday’s Grand Entry is slated for 1 p.m. The Justin Goggles/Paula Michelle and family Tiny Tot Special starts at 1:30, followed by contest dancing in junior and teen categories at 4 p.m. The Richard and Elaine Bear Child and family Honor Dance is set for 5, with the supper break running from 6 to 6:45.

Prior to the 7 p.m. Grand Entry, the Stickgame Tournament begins, with the Evelyn (Comes At Night) No Runner family feed being held in the Stickgame Arbor.

The Gerald Cooper and family Men’s Traditional Dance Special starts at 7:40 p.m., and the Robert “Rice” Crawford Sr. Family giveaway begins at 8 p.m. Contest dancing in the Golden Age and Adult categories rounds out the evening.

The Running Crane Memorial Breakfast begins events on Sunday at 7 a.m., with Catholic Mass at the Dance Arbor at 11 a.m. Grand Entry is set for 1 p.m., with Tiny Tots dancing at 1:30. Contest dancing for Juniors and Teens runs from 2 to 4 p.m., followed by the Peter “Rusty” Tatsey Family Feed at 4 p.m. Supper, if anyone needs any, runs from 6-6:45 p.m., with the Crazy Dog versus Veterans Traditional Stickgame beginning in the meantime.

The final Grand Entry starts at 7 p.m., with Golden Age contest dancing at 7:30 p.m. The Clown Dance contest is at 8 p.m., Adult contest dancing at 9, and the team dancing contest starts at 10:30 p.m.

All the dance and drum winners will be announced at 11 p.m. Sunday evening.

For more information, call Pat or Frosty Calf Boss Ribs at 406-338-2086.