Distinctly Montana Magazine

D I S T I N C T LY M O N TA N A • S U M M E R 2 0 1 7 60 CROW FAIR WEB SITE: www.crazycrow.com/site/event/crow-fair-pow-wow-rodeo/ CROW FAIR DATE: August 16-21, 2017 LOCATION: The Crow Agency is located 60 miles from Billings Montana, on the banks of the Little Bighorn River, near the place where the famous Battle of the Greasy Grass (commonly known as Custer's Last Stand) was fought. ACCOMMODATION: Hardin, Montana. You will find a selection of hotels including bed and breakfast options. CROW FAIR TEEPEE ACCOMMODATION: Rose (Olivia) Williamson EMAIL: liviarose_wmson@yahoo.com PHONE: (406) 426-0216 DAVID METCALF is a photographer, writer, and photo gallery owner and is lead- ing a group tour this year to the Crow Fair. www.davidmetcalfphotography.com www.instagram.com/davidmetcalfphotography www.taksuphotogallery.com Rose stands against the wall of the Little Big Horn Museum. Luckily I managed to secure accommodation in a teepee, always a dream of mine. is was through Rose, a Crow Indian and former official tour guide for the Indian battlefield site of Little Big Horn. She had placed a small cardboard sign on the side of the road stating "teepee for rent" and set up a row of 10 teepees on her family plot. Each was outfitted with new sheets, little camp beds, blankets, a table, a lantern, and a colorful woven Indian rug, which served as the doorway flap. Rose's family took care of the camp all day, with family members taking shifts. Because teepees don't have keys, this provided im- portant security. I stayed with Rose and her family for the five days of the fair and felt right at home. I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know the members of her extended family, including Grandma and her string of grandchildren, who filtered in and out all day. While an aunty was busy beading, an uncle would be cooking, and coffee was always on the stove, piping hot. We readily struck up conversations, which always had a natural flow. In no time, I felt like one of the family. For me, the Parade of Horses was one of the highlights of the powwow. A continuous line of colorful riders and horses with bright beadwork, ornamental war bonnets and other tribal regalia streamed through the showground route ending in the main pavilion. After- wards, there was a singing competition, my first opportunity to hear different Native American Indian languages. While explanations of the songs were announced by the MC in English, my neighbor gave me a nudge and commented, "e prize money for the best singer is quite sizeable. You will hear some of the best singers in the nation today," and indeed I did. e powwow also featured rodeo events, different dance competi- tions, daily drumming circles, and a variety of other activities. On the final day a sacred ritual procession of dancers took place. ere

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