Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1938-08-20

Pageantry which viii depict both
modern and historical Indian life wiz
be staged during a five-day celebration
at Grow Agency, on the Grow res6rva-
ton, Aug. % 10 Sept. 2, inclusive.
Scheduled IS q plains Indian pow
WOW, pageant, Grow tribal fair, rodeo
and exhibition, the affair is expected
to be the greatest celebration Of its
kind ever held, Robert Yellowtail,
superintendent Of the Crow reserva-
ton, declared.
I'VE have the backing Of the gov
eminent, and we're going to make 1t
the greatest Indian celebration ever
attempted" Yellowtail said
Government officials from over the
nation win be on hand, while prominent
eastern dudes already are making res
ervations for the event, the super
intendent said.
Not the least Of the attractions for
the eastern tourists viii be the fact
that hundreds of Indians, representing
nearly every tribe in the western part
of the United States and northwestern
Canada, will be present to lend color TO
what otherwise probably would be just
another fair.
Sham battles, war parades of Indian
warriors dressed for the part with
historical accuracy, elk and buffalo
barbecues, Indian dances and sacred
rituals are expected to provide plenty
of entertainment as well as give the
eastern visitors a glimpse Of Indian
life as it used to be.
The Grow Indians have always, since
the western country was settled and
they became more or less intimate
neighbors of the white man, had a |
liking for fairs. They have been since
the early days of Billings history
among the most interested patrons of |
the annual Midland Empire fair.
First Fair In 1908
The first Grow fair was staged In
1908, according to records in the office
of the superintendent, but poor trans
portation facilities, lack Of adequate
funds and a lack of general interest
made 1t almost impossible to attract
more than few outside visitors. BY
1912 the annual effort was abandoned
But when Robert Yellowtau was
named superintendent Of the reserva-
tion the annual fair was revived and
the coming event win be the fourth
annual edition under his management.
Yellowtail is an Indian. He brought
with him to his new duties the en-
,husiaSm Of youth, and an intimate
of both the Indian and white
mans ways of living.
Having these, he has been able to
luild for the Grow tribe in a way which
would have been almost impossible for
/ white superintendent.
Yellowtail revived the annual fair,
md, having keen sense Of the value
If publicity, has done all possible to
)ring 1t to the attention of the country.
lie has made the fair itself an event
or the publicizing Of the Grow reser-
ration and its Indian population.
RebuiIds Bison Herd
One Of the first things he did after
'ecoming superintendent was TO launch
program for the rebuilding of q
luffalo herd which would roam on the
ills and plains Of the reservation
where once buffalo we're so numerous
S to be counted in the thousands. He
ranged to restore other wild game
0 at least a Semblance of its former
tate-all for the benefit of the In
Jan who, before the coming Of the
7hite man, obtained the greatest part
4 his livelihood from nature.
And these buffalo herds and the res
rvation's elk herd provide one Of the
main features Of the annual fair. That
eature is the distribution OF buffalo
nd elk meat among the Indians gath
red at the agency.
Approximately 20 buffalo and an
quail number Of elk from the herd viii
e slaughtered this year, YelloWCa1 an
ounced. The visiting Indians win be
ssigned to living quarters the first
az of the five-day celebration and
uffalo and elk meat win be distributed
hem under the direction Of Owen
retty Weasel
To Be Major Feature
And the buffalo hunt also win be
ne Of the major features of the cele-
ration. the superintendent said.
He pointed out that during the
utter part OF the 18th century, buffalo
ere so numerous In the western plains
reas that often they took hours and
ven days TO pass q given point. But
lese herds soon were killed off and
le buffalo seemed headed toward ex-
notion and it is only in recent years
nat steps have been taken to build up
he few remaining bands.
$50 the buffalo hunt on the Grow
once a common occurrence
lroughort the western plains area, q
Ill be a re-enactment of early-day :