Drum roll please…

Posted on: jamacsadmin

Shannon LeClair – Times Reporter

Drumbeats filled the air as bright splashes of colour flashed before spectators at the third annual Blackfoot Crossing Chicken Dance Championships. The historical park opened in 2007 and as a new facility, the park wanted to have a signature event every year. 

“In 2008 our first one landed on National Aboriginal Day, and so we put it on that day to celebrate,” said Shane Breaker, vice president of marketing and public relations for Blackfoot crossing. In the past two years, the event has lasted for two days. This year organizers decided to do it all in one day. Pow-wows are common in North America, but Blackfoot Crossing is the only place which focuses on the chicken dance.  The dance is part of the BlackFoot culture. It’s a male dance, and is a reflection from the actual prairie chicken. The pow-wow is open to all tribes who wish to compete, and the winners are based on the best dancers.

“The contestants themselves find it very unique because it’s an event all on its own and you can’t find it anywhere else. It’s a championship to recognize the best dancers out there in this category. Even though it’s held on Blackfoot territory, there have been Cree winners, it’s to find the best in the field,” said Breaker.

There are different age categories for the dancers with some young children, as young as seven-years-old and under, all the way to elders.

“A lot of people at different ages, they kind of get into the chicken dance category. Same with any other category, they might start out young, or get into when they get older,” said Breaker.

Every outfit in each category had a similar general look, but every one of them is individualized and special to each dancer. They tried to make their outfits as spectacular as possible. They may take the designs from family designs that have been passed on to them. Pow-wow dancing is considered a celebration, and a type of cleansing. Winners of each division won a cash prize, and the adult cash prize was for $2,500.

The results were:
Junior category

1. Sage Crazy Bull. Kainai Nation, Alberta
2. Richard Guardipee. Browning, Montana
3. Sheadon Turning Robe. Siksika Nation, Alberta.
4. Chance White. Wetaskwin, Alberta.



Teen Category

1. Colin Raine. Wetaskwin, Alberta.
2. Issac Wippert. Browning, Alberta.
3. Josee Wright-Turning Robe. Siksika Nation, Alberta.
4. A.J. Young. Siksika Nation, Alberta.



Senior Category

1. Sheldon Scalplock. Siksika Nation, Alberta.
2. Buddy Currie. Montana Band, Alberta.
3. Stan Whiteman Sr. Blackfeet, Montana.
4. Bernard Bear Shirt. Siksika Nation, Alberta.



Adult Category

1. Alex Scalplock Jr. Siksika Nation, Alberta.
2. Rodney First Striker. Blackfeet, Montana.
3.Nat Iron Heart. Blackfeet, Montana
4. Chris ‘Nugget’ Bull Bear. Siksika Nation, Alberta.
5. Darryl MacDonald. Siksika Nation, Alberta.
6. Patrick Armstrong. Blackfeet, Montana.