On this Indigenous People’s Day I’d like to recognize my great grandfather. He was a healer, a medicine man, and a servant of humanity. He was my grandmother’s father, and she was one of my greatest influences before the age of seven.
We celebrate occasions, holidays, people, and sometimes even as an adult I’m confused by some of the names on the calendar and what they now represent, but I digress..
For the past, the present and the future. North, South, East, and West winds I thank you for your wisdom, guidance and will continue to fight for the soils of the universe. I hope to heal myself and those around me through our journey together and look to the stars for direction.
The Blackfeet people have occupied the Rocky Mountain region for more than 10,000 years. In the 18th and 19th centuries, the four Blackfeet bands—the North Piegan, the South Piegan, the Blood, and the Siksika—occupied much of the northern plains and were nomadic, following the seasonal grazing and migration of buffalo. Members of the Blackfeet Nation in the United States primarily descend from the South Piegan. To this day, we use the land for cultural and spiritual purposes.
The Blackfeet Nation works hard to retain its culture in the modern era. Annual celebrations of Blackfeet culture include the North American Indian Days Celebration and The Heart Butte Indian Days, featuring traditional dancing, singing, drumming, stick games, and rodeos.
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