Gathering of Families

According to the International Traditional Games Society, the "Gathering of Families" project/event came from their research with Native youth and their families from 2018-2020, where they expressed a desire to see culturally relevant activities for themselves and their families on and off the tribal lands. It expanded to include all people because of the positive past visitor responses to Native events hosted by them and their partners. There is a need in our communities to elevate Indigenous voices, inspire future leaders, carry on the cultural knowledge to bring together a community of all backgrounds through these events.

The Gathering of Families highlights and celebrates Montana's Native American culture, while bringing together members of all tribes for family fun, cultural events and more.

ITGS is a Montana non-profit organization that has been recovering traditional culture and games that supported families in pre-contact times. Events have been held across the northwest U.S. and Canada for the last 32 years.

The Gathering of Families event came to Great Falls and the surrounding areas on the week of Oct. 8-14. The Event featured a traditional Powwow, traditional games tournament, adult and youth conference with NA speakers, a parade, and more.

Wednesday afternoon, the First Peoples Buffalo Jump State Park hosted a traditional horse game demonstration presented by the Browning High School Rodeo Club. Jimi Champ, Ag and FFA teacher, and Rodeo Club Coach brought her rodeo travel team consisting of students in the Rodeo Club. Browning High School junior, Jason Denny Jr. opened the event by offering a prayer spoken in the Blackfeet Language.Mrs. Champ then addressed the crowd gathered, explaining how horses became a huge part of the Indian culture. Pointing to the Buffalo Jump in the background, she explained that prior to horses, that was the way the Indian hunted buffalo. "Horses changed the way our people lived." Not only did it change the way they hunted buffalo, but horses made it possible for them to be more mobile. Prior to horses, they used dogs to move their camps. With horses, they were able to carry bigger loads. As they became better horsemen, they had more time to have fun and laugh, laughing being a big part of their culture.

She went on to explain the significance of symbols painted on the horses. "Traditionally, when our warriors went on a raid or to battle, they painted their horses based on their coup stories and for positive prayers in the upcoming event. The paints were made from animal fats and the resources we had in the area (rocks and plants); our traditional colors are red, yellow, and black, though other tribes used other colors as well. The circles around the horses' eyes are prayers that the horses are able to see better in their journey. The lightning bolts on the legs are for speed. The handprints are when an enemy was knocked down and counted coup upon. The 3-sided squares are "hoof prints" that signify how many horses have been stolen by the rider. Lines on the legs are for surefootedness, and the circles are prayers that the enemy is hit by hail."

The group demonstrated the Hoop and Staff Race. It involves the rider riding down the side of posts spearing the hoops from the extensions. He/she rounds the last post and rides down the other side spearing rings on the opposite side and then returns to the finish. The rider must use the staff to spear the rings and carry them to the finish line. Points will be awarded for speed, number of speared hoops and colors of hoops. One competitor at a time will run the race.