The lodges are up and people are on the move toward Browning and the 59th Annual North American Indian Days. Activities began the Fourth of July at the Stampede Park with fireworks, horse racing and Indian relays. The action continued Monday with boxing and the start of the Miss Blackfeet contest. On Tuesday the Kids Rodeo was held at the Stampede Park, and that evening the Tal Michael Memorial Running of the Horses brought the reality of Indian Days home.
The Warrior Extreme Race for men and women starts things out at 8 a.m. Wednesday, July 7, and meanwhile Blackfeet Youth Day starts at the same time at All Chiefs Park in downtown Browning, an all-day affair with lots and lots of activities for kids and their families.
Having run the broncs through Browning on Tuesday, the Tal Michael Memorial Rodeo starts at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the Stampede Park, and the Blackfoot Confederacy will meet at 1 p.m. at the Tribal Conference Room in Browning.
Newfield Oil Co. is holding a community feed at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the campground by the new picnic tables.
The 4-H Fair starts at 9 a.m. at the Stampede Park, with the food booth opening at 11, the Project Exhibit Building opening at 3 p.m. and the Horse Show also starting at 3 in the Rodeo Arena.
Indian relays are running at the Stampede Park at 1 p.m., as well as the Old Time Relay Race. The Bucking Horse Futurity winds things up at the Park, starting at 6 p.m.
Elections for five positions on the Blackfeet Tribal Business Council were held last week. The five winners will be inaugurated in ceremonies held at 10 a.m. Thursday, July 8, at the Dance Arbor. Votes are due in by noon for both the Blackfeet Princess and Tiny Tot candidates. The winners will be announced at 4:30 p.m. on Friday.
4-H activities begin at 9 a.m. Thursday with the Swine Showmanship and Market Show. The Projects Building opens at 10, along with the start of the Beef Showmanship and Market Show. Sheep Showmanship starts at 11, and Cat Showmanship is at 2 p.m. Entries for Indian Relays close at 10 p.m.
Meanwhile at the Dance Arbor, the first Grand Entry and the beginning of points starts at 7 p.m., and an honoring for the Blackfeet Community College grads takes place at 9 p.m.
Friday at the Dance Arbor, 1 p.m. marks the second Grand Entry, with another at 7 p.m., and there is Big Bingo at the Glacier Peaks Casino Friday, as well.
Friday at the Stampede Park starts at 8 a.m. with slack for the NAID Rodeo, horse racing at 1 p.m. and the first performance of the NAID Rodeo at 5 p.m. Also on Friday, at 2 p.m., is the 4-H Livestock Auction Sale and the Silent Auction of non-animal 4-H projects.
As always, Saturday’s big event is the annual North American Indian Days Parade. Get your spot early as lineup starts at 10 a.m. and the Parade itself gets underway at 11. Prize money for the parade has doubled this year, said NAID Committee members, with contests in 48 different parade categories. Grand Entry will be at 2 p.m. to give everybody time to get back to the Arbor. There is no Grand Entry Saturday night, as the evening will be filled with specials.
Horse racing starts at the Stampede Park at 1 p.m. Saturday, with Indian Relays and the Ladies Race held that day. The NAID Rodeo gets its second performance underway at 5 p.m.
Sunday at the Arbor opens with Mass at 10 a.m. There are Grand Entries slated for 1 and 7 p.m. At the Stampede Park, horse racing finals start at 12 p.m., beginning with the Chiefs Race, following with both flat track and Indian Relays and concluding with the John “Bup” Murray Memorial Relay. The finals for the top 10 start at 3 p.m. in the NAID Rodeo finale.
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