During Native Awareness Week, there were special activities at the College each day.Craig and I were enthralled with the traditional dancing demonstration held one lunchtime.
The costumes were stunning, with intricate beadwork that is hard to see in the photos. All the dancers wore traditional Blackfoot outfits.
The dances at Powwows have a strong personal and spiritual dimension. An MC explained the history of the dance and the different parts of the outfit before they started. There are many different stories and interpretations for each dance, depending on tribal and family background. Men's and Women's Fancy dance, the Chicken Dance and the Grass Dance were a few of the ones we saw. Some of the dances were so fast it was difficult to take photos of the dancers without them being blurry.
These two dancers are the Mum and Dad of the youngest drummer. 
Chicken Dancers - each man wears a porcupine hair roach on his head and a feather bustle. The dancers step quickly, crouch and rise as they imitate the mating dance of the prairie chickens.
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