Dodson School concludes Native American Week with Powow, Indian Taco feed and special guest

Last week, Dodson Schools celebrated Native American Week and on Thursday concluded the celebration with a Powow and speaker Catcher CutsTheRope.

"We are going to have ourselves a dance," CutsTheRope said prior to the Powwow. Earlier in the afternoon, CutsTheRope built a lodge in the field near Dodson School and brought five young men into the lodge to speak with them.

"We have to share, we have to be good to one another and we have to help one another," CutsTheRope said. "What is strong about us has kept us alive and it is going to keep us going."

CutsTheRope, a Dodson Graduate, spent about 15 minutes in the lodge with the young men and let them know that though Native American Week is a good thing, every day is Native American Day.

"Today we are going to honor the earth, honor ourselves and have a good time," he concluded.

Before the dancing began, guests, students and staff were treated to Indian Tacos-both with ground beef and with maple frosting -- Kiwi, Juneberry Soup, deserts and beverages.

Dottie Simanton, Donna Duncan and Megan Martin started cooking for the event on Thursday morning – after the regular school meals – getting dough ready for the day.

"And then we came in and started at 6 a.m. today," said Simanton. "I think we have fed over 150 people and we aren't done yet."

Following lunch, the Powwow began with CutsTheRope leading the festivities while Reese Gray, Rae Gray and Charles GreyBoy, all of Fort Belknap, provided the drum playing and singing during the dancing.

"We are going to ask that you pay attention to the stories that these dancers are telling," CutsTheRope said. "With the Fancy Shawl Dancers, watch their feet and watch how they move they will be flying all over the place. The Traditional Dancers, they have a story to tell too. They are our warriors and they have a story."

Grass Dancers, Traditional Dancers, Fancy Shawl Dancers and Jingle Dancers all graced the school's auditorium for several dances before the final dance of the afternoon brought nearly all of the over 150 people in attendance onto the dance floor, holding hands and forming a huge, beautiful, circle.