16

After two days had passed,
it was time for Young Rabbit’s big moment.



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37



33



i) THE INDIAN READING SERIES:
EY Stories and Legends of the Northwest



10

Many evenings Young Rabbit danced his new steps.
His mother bought many blankets.
She made some star quilts and put them away
for the big dance.
His father broke many horses for the giveaway.



20

Each drum sounded loud and clear as the drummers sang
the grass dance songs.

What nice Indian costumes the dancers had!

The bells tinkled happily and the feathers swayed
as the dancers moved.

The people laughed and joked.

They were very happy.



38

After Young Rabbit had eaten, he fell into a deep,
happy sleep inside the comfortable tepee.
The next morning a happy family left for home.



A Little Boy’s Big Moment is a story about a small
Blackfeet Indian boy’s first dance. It is
traditional with our Blackfeet Indian people to
have a giveaway ceremony to honor someone for
something special. When a child or person makes
their first public appearance as a dancer, this
ceremony is done to honor the person. The
person will then be recognized as a dancer in our
Blackfeet Indian society. This ceremony is still
carried out to a great degree among the
traditional Blackfeet Indian people.



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32

Young Rabbit danced for many hours.

He became, oh, so very tired.

His eyes wanted to close.

His legs would not move as fast as the drum beat.
Even his headdress seemed tired.

It hung slightly to one side.



14

At the campgrounds, the tepee was pitched
among the other tepees in a big circle.

Everyone was happy to be together again
after a long, cold winter.



“Young Rabbit,” said his father, “at the big dance this year
we will have a giveaway in honor of the first time
you dance at a celebration.

We will give away many fine presents — some blankets,
Indian crafts and some fine horses.”

The son listened to his father and felt very proud
of this honor.

How grown up he felt!



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26

Then the drums stopped.

Young Rabbit’s father and mother began the giveaway.

He thought, “How very lucky I am to be a Blackfeet Indian!
I’m so very proud.

And to think my ancestors have roamed this very land!”





One cold, winter evening Young Rabbit’s father
was sitting by the wood stove.

He was singing a fast, grass dance song.

The little boy thought,
“This song makes me want to dance”



15





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21



A Little Boy’s
Big Moment

The Indian Reading Series

Level I Book 18

S
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Young Rabbit’s mother and father began making a good,
fancy dance outfit.

Just the right colored feathers were chosen.

A fine porcupine headdress was made.

Bells were strung on rawhide.

After several months of work,
Young Rabbit tried on his outfit.

He felt great pride.

“I feel like a great Blackfeet brave,” he said.



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7



JOAN BULLSHOE KENNERLY

Mrs. Kennerly is a member of the Blackfeet Tribe and has
fifteen years of teaching experience in the Blackfeet and
Northern Cheyenne public school systems. She was the
first runnerup for the 1972 Montana Teacher of the Year.
She received her B.A. in education at Northern Montana
College and her M.A. in education at Arizona State Uni-
versity. She has served as an elementary school principal
and is presently teaching.

JUNE BULLSHOE TATSEY

Mrs. Tatsey is a Blackfeet Indian with twelve years ex-
perience in teaching grades one through eight and

re-school in the public school system on the Blackfeet

eservation. She received her B.S. in education from
Northern Montana College and her M.E. in guidance and
counseling from the University of South Dakota and the
University of Montana. She is reading supervisor in
Browning on the Blackfeet Reservation.

CARMEN BULLSHOE MARCEAU

Mrs, Marceau is a Blackfeet Indian with thirteen years
teaching experience. She has had one year experience in
uidance and counseling an the Blackfeet Reservation.
e received her B.S. in education from Northern Mon-
tana College and het ME, in guidance and counselin
from the University of South Dakota and the University o:
Montana, She is presently the principal of Vina Chattin
School in Browning, Montana.

DORIS BULLSHOE OLD PERSON

Mrs. Old Person is a member of the Blackfeet Tribe and has
fourteen years e: lence teaching in the Blackfeet Public
School System. She has specialized in reading and has
been Head Start Director-Supervisor for ESEA Title I
and Director of the Native American Song and Dance
Program. She received her B.A. from Northern Montana
College and her M.A. in education from Arizona State
University. Her interests are in Indian culture and de-
veloping. talents of Indian children. She is the mother
of five children.

Mrs. Kennerly, Mrs. Tatsey, Mrs. Marceau, and Mrs. Old
Person are the daughters of Lillian and Francis Bullshoe.
They were raised on a ranch near Badger Creek in the
Blackfeet Reservation countryside.

All four women had similar educational backgrounds. They
attended a one room rural school, the Blackfeet Indian
Boarding School, and all but Mrs. ‘Tatsey attended Flan-
dreau Indian School in South Dakota. They all graduated
from Browning High School. At the present time, the four
women are teaching in the Blackfeet Public School Syatem
in Browning, Montana.

MELVIN TAILFEATHERS

Mr. Tailfeathers is a self-taught artist who has lived on the
Blackfeet Reservation all his life. His grandmother was a
Blackfeet medicine woman. Mr. Tailfeathers prefers to do
pen and ink sketches of Blackfeet life although he some-
times works with ceramic figurines.


When the giveaway was over,
the family left the center of the dance ring.

They were overjoyed to think that the Great Spirit
had helped them obtain enough to give to others
in honor of their son.

They felt great satisfaction to know this task had
been achieved.

28



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27



Young Rabbit began slowly tapping his foot
to the beat of the drum.

He then got up and began to dance very fast.

At the end of the song, the father said to his son,
“Young Rabbit, do you like to dance?”

“Yes, Father, it makes me feel good,” said Young Rabbit.
“Teach me how to do fancy steps.”



18

Young Rabbit’s mother and father brought all the blankets,
moccasins and beadwork to the ring.
Young Rabbit stood proudly beside them.



35



36

Young Rabbit’s mother cooked a meal of boiled meat,
berry soup and fried bread.



24

Young Rabbit danced proudly as he led the line.

His mother and father followed behind him.

Many relatives and friends joined in the dance.

The drumbeat seemed to say to Young Rabbit,
“How proud we are of you!

You are a strong, wonderful Indian boy.

Someday you will lead our tribe to great honors.”



Developed by the Pacific Northwest Indian Reading and Language Development, Program
Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory, 710 Southwest Second Avenue, Portland, Oregon 97204

Copyright © 1977 by the Blackfeet ‘Tribe
All rights reserved.

‘The work upon which this publication is based was performed pursuant to Contract
No. 400-76-0048, with the Educational Equity Group/Multicultural/Bilingual Division.
of the National Institute of Education. It does not, however, necessarily reflect the
views of that agency.

This publication is not printed at the expense of the Federal Government.
Published by Educational Systems, Inc., 2360 Southwest 170th Street, Beaverton, Oregon 97005
Printed and bound in the United States of America


Booklets available in the Level I sequence are listed below. Numbers refer to the planned sequence of use as
outlined in the Teacher’s Manual. Materials developed by these tribes and others in the Northwest will

appear in the Levels II and III sequence.

1 Coyote and the Stars
The Confederated Tribes of the
Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon
2 How Wild Horses Were Captured
The Confederated Tribes of the
Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon
3 School
Blackfeet Tribe

4 Philene and Buttons
Northern Cheyenne Tribe

5 Insects Off to War
Northern Cheyenne Tribe

6 Why Bluejay Hops
Skokomish Tribe

‘T Indian Festival
Shoshone-Bannock Tribes of the
Fort Hall Reservation

8 Helpers
Blackfeet Tribe

9 Far Out, A Rodeo Horse
Crow Tribal Historical and Cultural
Commission

10 Tales of Coyote and Other Legends

The Confederated Tribes of the
‘Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon

11 Birds and People
Crow Tribal Historical and Cultural
Commission
12 Chipmunk Meets Old Witch
The Confederated Tribes of the
Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon
13 My Name Is Pop
Crow Tribal Historical and Cultural
Commission
14 Santa Claus Comes to the Reservation
Crow Tribal Historical and Cultural
Commission
15 How Cottontail Lost His Fingers
The Confederated Tribes of the
Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon
16 Friends
Blackfeet Tribe
17 How Daylight Came to Be
Skokomish Tribe
18 A Little Boy’s Big Moment
Blackfeet Tribe
19 Skunk
Muckleshoot Tribe
20 Raven Helps the Indians
Skokomish Tribe

For order information and prices of the above booklets and the Teacher’s Manual, contact the publisher:

Educational Systems, Inc.
2360 Southwest 170th Street
Beaverton, Oregon 97005

(503) 649-7516


11



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13



x THE INDIAN READING SERIES:
‘% Stories and Legends of the Northwest

A Little Boy’s Big Moment
Level I Book 18

Developed by the Blackfeet Indians
Written by Joan Kennerly, Carmen Marceau, Doris Old Person, June Tatsey
Illustrated by Melvin Tailfeathers

Joseph Coburn, Director
Pacific Northwest Indian Program
Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory



34

Young Rabbit’s mother looked at the tired, little boy
and smiled.

She took his hand in hers.

They walked slowly toward the tepee.

Although very tired, Young Rabbit had completed
a great event.



22

Suddenly the announcer said,
“The family of Young Rabbit will now have
an honor dance.
This will be the first time Young Rabbit will dance
at a big celebration”
Young Rabbit’s heart pounded as his father and mother
walked with him to the center of the ring.



THE INDIAN READING SERIES: Stories and Legends of the

Northwest is a collection of authentic material cooperatively devel-

oped by Indian people from twelve reservations. Development ac-

tivities are guided by a Policy Board which represents the Indian

community of the Pacific Northwest. The Pacific Northwest Indian

Reading and Language Development Program Policy Board mem-
Ts are:

* Warren Clements — Warm Springs
Chairman

* Morrie Jimenez — Klamath

« Joan Kennerly — Blackfeet

¢ Walter Moffett — Nez Perce

¢ Emmett Oliver — Quinault

¢ Bob Parsley — Chippewa

¢ Lloyd Smith — Warm Springs

* Max Snow

« Jeanne Thomas — Yakima


30

Young Rabbit was now recognized as one of the dancers.
When the drums began to beat

and the dancers started to dance,

Young Rabbit joined in.
The drums seemed to say, “Young Rabbit dances so proudly.
Young Rabbit dances so lightly.
Young Rabbit is truly a great Indian dancer”



39



25



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arm bustle

headband



12

Young Rabbit became more excited as each day passed.
Finally the big day came!
Everyone was ready to move to the Indian Day campgrounds.