Well howdeee! We were cruising along in the forties and fifties and then Saturday night shabam! The temperature dropped down to ten and six inches of the heavenly white stuff dropped on our heads. This morning I’m registering zero on the thermometer.
It was so warm earlier in the week I loaded up the four-wheeler and went out to get a head start on cutting up the blow down. Glad I did cuz that particular activity will once again go on the back burner.
Rummaging around in my photo files I came across photographs I took at the 2010 Blackfeet Pow Wow. Somehow I have never gotten around to up loading the photos I took of the dancers. I’m amazed at the number of beautiful images I have that have never seen the light of day, so much to do so little time.
The annual Blackfeet Pow Wow is held in Browning every July. Like most reservation towns, Browning is a desolate place but for a few days in July it becomes a happy colorful place. Tribal members gather to celebrate their heritage and it is a wonderful thing to see.
I took Clementine over (my RV). There isn’t much in the way of accommodations in Browning so I just parked on the grass near the celebration pavilion. There was no charge. The feeling was; come one, come all and enjoy yourself.
If there is such a thing as past lives, and I’m not sure if there is or isn’t, I feel I must surely have been a Native American in one of mine. Every time I’m on the reservation I have a lump in my throat, tears are never far away and for no perceptible reason. The only way that I can explain the feeling is one of grieving. Watching these proud and beautiful dancers was a real emotional ride for me.
BTW, you can click on any of the images to get a much larger version.
There were two elder dancers that really caught my attention, one woman and one man. It was impossible to tell just how old they were but they certainly had been around awhile. Their costumes were impeccable and they moved to the drums with such pride, elegance and grace.
I got a kick out of the minor modern trappings like dark glasses. The faces of these people seemed like maps to the past. I can only imagine what it must be like to walk in their moccasins.
This photo I rather like for the way the sun seemed to shine only on the one, making her look like a chosen princess.
While I think these images are nice to see it was impossible to get shots that did not include astro-turf and grandstands. And, because these dances were competitions the dancers costumes had numbers that were hard to avoid. If wishes were horses I would hire a Blackfoot model, in full dress, to photograph in a more natural environment maybe even astride a horse. If I ever get that wish I’ll let you know.
This last image is of the scrap metal sculptures that grace three of the entrances to the reservation. This particular set is at the south entrance. I just think they are beautiful. More proof of my contention that there is beauty everywhere around us if we just take time to see it. The sculptures are made from rusted auto parts, bits of barbed wire and other scrap. The artist is Jay Laber, a Blackfoot.
Until next week,
©Kinsey Barnard
Showing posts with label Native Americans. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Native Americans. Show all posts
31 January 2011
05 August 2010
Brule
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Brule, pronounced bru-ley is not a new Native American music group but it is to me and certainly is awesome.
On my way back from the Blackfeet Pow wow I stopped in at Montana Fur Trading and heard this music playing in the background. I bot the CD and forgot about it until yesterday when I finally cranked it up on my stereo. Oh my goodness what a treat.
The group has released a number of CD's
The one I stumbled on is called Star People. If you like things Native American and instrumental music I think you'll love Brule.
©Kinsey Barnard Photography
Brule, pronounced bru-ley is not a new Native American music group but it is to me and certainly is awesome.
On my way back from the Blackfeet Pow wow I stopped in at Montana Fur Trading and heard this music playing in the background. I bot the CD and forgot about it until yesterday when I finally cranked it up on my stereo. Oh my goodness what a treat.
The group has released a number of CD's
The one I stumbled on is called Star People. If you like things Native American and instrumental music I think you'll love Brule.
©Kinsey Barnard Photography
21 July 2010
Blackfeet Pow Wow - 2010 - Feathers
These are just a few of the beautiful feathers pieces to be seen at the Blackfeet Pow Wow.
©Kinsey Barnard Photography
©Kinsey Barnard Photography
20 July 2010
Blackfeet Pow wow - July 2010
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Elder dancer at the 2010 Blackfeet Pow wow.
This gentleman was so very regal. Not only was his costume beautiful but also his countenance as he performed his dance.
©Kinsey Barnard Photography
Elder dancer at the 2010 Blackfeet Pow wow.
This gentleman was so very regal. Not only was his costume beautiful but also his countenance as he performed his dance.
©Kinsey Barnard Photography
18 July 2010
Blackfeet Nation-Lords of the Plains
Need I say more?
Was over to the Blackfeet pow wow last weekend. Hopefully will have some good images of the event.
©Kinsey Barnard Photography
18 June 2010
Chief Mountain-Blackfeet Country
On the very northeast corner of Glacier National Park you will find Chief Mountain rising up to meet the sky. At just over 9,000 ft. it isn’t a particularly high mountain but it is certainly a majestic one.
Chief Mountain has been a sacred mountain to Native American tribes, particularly the Blackfeet, for hundreds of years. The Blackfoot name for the mountain is Ninastiko. The mountain was first seen by white explorers in the late 1700s and was known as "Kings Peak" on maps produced in the United Kingdom in 1795. Merriwether Lewis, co-leader of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, saw the mountain in 1805 and called it "Tower Mountain". The name was changed in the late 1800s to reflect the Blackfeet naming of the mountain, which was "Great Chief".
The mountain has long been a place where young Native Americans have gone for their vision quest. A vision quest is a ritual in which an individual travels to an isolated area for the purpose of entering a trance, during which a life path or destiny is revealed. It is quite literally a quest for a vision.
The image above is of the Northern entrance to the Blackfeet Reservation near the Canadian border. You can see Chief Mountain off in the distance.
There is a loop that one can drive, starting from St. Mary, that takes you up to the Piegan border crossing into Alberta and Cardston and then west to Waterton International Peace Park from there back south through the Chief Mountain border crossing. All along this route there is hardly a time when you are out of sight of Chief Mountain and it was interesting to me to watch it change shape as I followed the loop.
If you ever find yourself in this part of the world I highly recommend you take this little junket it's quite beautiful.
©Kinsey Barnard Photography
Chief Mountain June 2010Chief Mountain has been a sacred mountain to Native American tribes, particularly the Blackfeet, for hundreds of years. The Blackfoot name for the mountain is Ninastiko. The mountain was first seen by white explorers in the late 1700s and was known as "Kings Peak" on maps produced in the United Kingdom in 1795. Merriwether Lewis, co-leader of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, saw the mountain in 1805 and called it "Tower Mountain". The name was changed in the late 1800s to reflect the Blackfeet naming of the mountain, which was "Great Chief".
Chief Mountain June 2010The mountain has long been a place where young Native Americans have gone for their vision quest. A vision quest is a ritual in which an individual travels to an isolated area for the purpose of entering a trance, during which a life path or destiny is revealed. It is quite literally a quest for a vision.
Blackfeet Reservation June 2010The image above is of the Northern entrance to the Blackfeet Reservation near the Canadian border. You can see Chief Mountain off in the distance.
There is a loop that one can drive, starting from St. Mary, that takes you up to the Piegan border crossing into Alberta and Cardston and then west to Waterton International Peace Park from there back south through the Chief Mountain border crossing. All along this route there is hardly a time when you are out of sight of Chief Mountain and it was interesting to me to watch it change shape as I followed the loop.
Chief MountainIf you ever find yourself in this part of the world I highly recommend you take this little junket it's quite beautiful.
©Kinsey Barnard Photography
12 June 2010
Blackfeet Horses-American Drinkers of the Wind
Although, I set out for Glacier National Park I found myself more intrigued with the Blackfeet Reservation. On the east side of the park you are on reservation land whether you want to be or not. For some reason I was constantly drawn to the mystique of the reservation.
It's hard to, at least for me, imagine American Indians without horses and yet prior to circa the 1730's the Blackfeet had never seen one. The Blackfeet who roamed the great plains of northern Montana and southern Alberta were among the last Native Americans to know the wonders of the horse. The time before horses was known as "Dog Days" and all portage was accomplished using dogs. All hunting was done afoot. Acquiring horses was a tremendous boon.
Horses were in fact native to North America in prehistoric times but they died out between 13,000 and 11,000 years ago. Horses were reintroduced to the continent by European explorers. Because of their geographic location the Blackfeet were amongst the last Indian tribes to come into contact with the Europeans. The Blackfeet first became aware of the horse whilst battling the Shoshone from the south around 1730.
The photo below is a photo of a photo which can be found just inside Glacier National Park at St. Mary. It was taken in 1914 and I think it's simply romantic and stunning.
On my recent visit to the Blackfeet Reservation and Glacier Park I decided to look around the reservation for some descendants of the ponies that once chased buffalo across the plains. June is prime foaling time so I was not disappointed.
North of St Mary I took a dirt road to, I knew not where, and discovered a small herd of horses with several foals.
Horses, as well as cattle, are pretty much free range and can be found grazing just about anywhere. In the small band that I found was a very new paint foal. Two things I found very interesting about this encounter. First, these horses wanted no part of me and started nervously milling around and moving away as soon as I stopped the car. In the photo below you can see three generations of Blackfeet horses; the sorrel mare, the new foal and the foal's older sibling.
The other thing that was interesting was how quickly the band joined ranks to shield the little paint colt from view. What made this so interesting to me is that there were other foals in the band but it was as though this little pinto foal was a crown prince and to be guarded and protected from the likes of me. It reminded me of the way elephants move to surround their young. Clearly a herd instinct but the little pinto was the obvious object of their concern.
When they got far enough away they stopped and seemed to relax going back to their grazing. The little paint was a fine looking foal with lovely long legs and wild blue eyes. You can't see them in this photo but trust me they were very blue and very wild. He was a prince!
This next fellow, whilst not a paint, I thought was a particularly regal the way he carried himself. It was easy to envision him prancing into battle with a Blackfoot warrior astride his back.
In addition to it being foaling time it was also wildflower time and this fellow was looking quite beautiful trotting off in a field of flowers. But, that was the thing, they were always trotting or galloping off! I'm thinking these horses are not getting a lot of use these days because they seemed wild as March hares to me. You'd have a dickens of a time catching one.
I didn't really put any serious time into photographing these marvelous beasts but now I wish that I had done. I'm thinking I may have to come back next June and try again in earnest. My imagination saw the wind drinkers of the the Great Plains and the Blackfeet who rode them. My heart yearns to honor them! All you have to do is look into their eyes and see the what was and what might have been.
©Kinsey Barnard Photography
It's hard to, at least for me, imagine American Indians without horses and yet prior to circa the 1730's the Blackfeet had never seen one. The Blackfeet who roamed the great plains of northern Montana and southern Alberta were among the last Native Americans to know the wonders of the horse. The time before horses was known as "Dog Days" and all portage was accomplished using dogs. All hunting was done afoot. Acquiring horses was a tremendous boon.
Horses were in fact native to North America in prehistoric times but they died out between 13,000 and 11,000 years ago. Horses were reintroduced to the continent by European explorers. Because of their geographic location the Blackfeet were amongst the last Indian tribes to come into contact with the Europeans. The Blackfeet first became aware of the horse whilst battling the Shoshone from the south around 1730.
The photo below is a photo of a photo which can be found just inside Glacier National Park at St. Mary. It was taken in 1914 and I think it's simply romantic and stunning.
Blackfeet at St. Mary 1914On my recent visit to the Blackfeet Reservation and Glacier Park I decided to look around the reservation for some descendants of the ponies that once chased buffalo across the plains. June is prime foaling time so I was not disappointed.
North of St Mary I took a dirt road to, I knew not where, and discovered a small herd of horses with several foals.
Blackfeet Horses June 2010Horses, as well as cattle, are pretty much free range and can be found grazing just about anywhere. In the small band that I found was a very new paint foal. Two things I found very interesting about this encounter. First, these horses wanted no part of me and started nervously milling around and moving away as soon as I stopped the car. In the photo below you can see three generations of Blackfeet horses; the sorrel mare, the new foal and the foal's older sibling.
Blackfeet Horses June 2010The other thing that was interesting was how quickly the band joined ranks to shield the little paint colt from view. What made this so interesting to me is that there were other foals in the band but it was as though this little pinto foal was a crown prince and to be guarded and protected from the likes of me. It reminded me of the way elephants move to surround their young. Clearly a herd instinct but the little pinto was the obvious object of their concern.
June 2010When they got far enough away they stopped and seemed to relax going back to their grazing. The little paint was a fine looking foal with lovely long legs and wild blue eyes. You can't see them in this photo but trust me they were very blue and very wild. He was a prince!
June 2010This next fellow, whilst not a paint, I thought was a particularly regal the way he carried himself. It was easy to envision him prancing into battle with a Blackfoot warrior astride his back.
June 2010In addition to it being foaling time it was also wildflower time and this fellow was looking quite beautiful trotting off in a field of flowers. But, that was the thing, they were always trotting or galloping off! I'm thinking these horses are not getting a lot of use these days because they seemed wild as March hares to me. You'd have a dickens of a time catching one.
June 2010I didn't really put any serious time into photographing these marvelous beasts but now I wish that I had done. I'm thinking I may have to come back next June and try again in earnest. My imagination saw the wind drinkers of the the Great Plains and the Blackfeet who rode them. My heart yearns to honor them! All you have to do is look into their eyes and see the what was and what might have been.
©Kinsey Barnard Photography
12 November 2008
SAN XAVIER MISSION - TOHONO O'ODHAM TRIBE
We haven't even started our preliminary research into the area let alone started to map out places we would like to try and shoot so we just got in the car and headed south on HWY 19 just for fun.
Not very far down the road we saw off in the distance a gleaming white structure which turned out to be San Xavier Mission on the San Xavier Indian Reservation. We swung onto the exit to take a closer look.
The mission is quite impressive. We didn't go inside because it was too hot to leave the Koty Bear in the car so we just walked the grounds. If you'd like to see a photo of the inside, it's quite beautiful, you can see one here
There is a small hill you can walk up to where a grotto is guarded by two impressive rather regal lions.
Whilst wandering the little hill I got my first up close an personal view of some native plant life. I am so looking forward to photographing the interesting plants here. Everything is so different from what I see in the Rockies. This character is a barrel cactus, I believe of the fish hook variety. I've got a lot of learning to do.
The Indian tribe that inhabits this reservation is called the Tohono O'odham. More about them can be found here. I always find these roadside graves interesting and this one was just along the road on the reservation. If you look real close you will see a little dog figurine. I wondered if it was a dog buried there or a little person who loved a dog.
Cemeteries always intrigued me and I was especially intrigued by this one on the reservation. The graves were all decked out and the American flag was flying, I imagine in honor of Veterans Day. Made me think of the sad story of that brave man Ira Hays. Thanks be to all those who have given so much so we could enjoy a freedom the politicians seem bent on taking away.
Ciao for now,
Koty & Kinsey
©Kinsey Barnard Photography
28 April 2008
RENDEZVOUS IN MONTANA
Every spring we have, in our village, this thing called Rendezvous. Rendezvous is the carrying on of a tradition that started back in the 19th century. Every spring trappers and traders would gather in the Tobacco Valley with the local Indian tribes to trade goods, stories and probably a little fire water.The celebration has taken on a more modern mantle but many still dress in traditional garb and re-enact the gathering of yore. There is hatchet throwing, black powder shooting and trading. And a general fellowship kind of thing.
These days there is a parade down Dewey, which is our main street. The parade had everything from Canadian pipers to hot rods. The part I liked best was that the people in the parade had candy they tossed to the crowd. I tried my darndest to catch some. But, mom kinda cramped my style. In that area. The thing I didn't like was the shooting off of those blunderbusts. Not good for this doggie.
Also, around town was a quilt show at the fairgrounds and lots of people selling arts and crafts down at the historic village. I'd reckon there must have been double the population in town this weekend. Maybe more cuz we only have about 1,000 souls here on a regular basis.
Someone must have been smiling on us too because they had called for rain this weekend and it was a beautiful spring weekend!
If you're ever in the area around the end of April you ought to stop by to experience our Rendezvous. It's a lot of fun.
Oh, and another thing. Folks in Montana just love their dogs and we get to go nearly everywhere with our families. I highly recommend Montana for family fun when the family includes my canine brethern.
©Kinsey Barnard Photography
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