2014 Crow Nation Fair and Rodeo Day 2 Parade

This post has been moved to OpenChutes.com. All future postings of Powwows, Indian Relay Races, Rodeos and Rendezvous will be posted there from now on exclusively. So if you’re looking for new images and posts for all those events attended this year, plus all the old posts posted on BigShotsNow.com check out OpenChutes.com. See you there!

Sunday morning was the big parade and it was wonderful. It was like a small town parade with homemade floats and people dressed up in costumes but from an Indian perspective. It was long and hot, the temp being in the low 90’s, but worth every second of it. We all got lawn chairs, found what shade we could and watched everything unfold.

The effort that went into designing and creating their native dress was spectacular. The pride they took in it and the seriousness with which they presented themselves spoke  to their deep reverence for their past. It was living history on display.

Usually I include a lot of dialog with each image but today I’ll just invite you to go to the parade with me. Pull your chair up, don’t leave your  water bottle sit out in the sun and enjoy the Crow Nation parade.

CrowParade3076Opening ceremonies. Presenting the flag and color guard.

CrowParade3081Men’s War Bonnet category.

CrowParade3101Young dancers on a float.

CrowParade3111                           Men’s War Shirt Category

CrowParade3121                           Men’s War Shirt category

CrowParade3142Women’s Old Time Saddle category

CrowParade3167                               Women’s Buckskin category

CrowParade3180                        Women’s Elk Tooth category

CrowParade3221                            Teen Boys Reservation Hat category

CrowParade3239                           Teen Boys War Bonnet

CrowParade3244                           Men’s War Bonnet

CrowParade3260                                 Teen Girls Nez Perce category

CrowParade3276                           Teen Girls Buckskin category

CrowParade3282                            Teen Girl’s Elk Tooth category

CrowParade3291                          Junior Girls Old Time Saddle category

CrowParade3321                         Junior Girl’s Elk Tooth category

CrowParade3447Young Crow dancers on Float

CrowParade3380Decorated truck and Float

And the parades over for this year. It was a lot of fun and even though the participants often looked serious you could tell they were having a good time. When they had gotten past the reviewing area the smiles came out, they waved to the crowd and basked in the attention. Lots of candy was thrown out to the kids and bystanders. The announcer made a point of telling everyone it was diabetic candy, apparently Diabetes is endemic in the tribes and there is a huge effort to educate and combat it. Soon all the exhibitors had unsaddled their horses, changed out of their costumes and we were back in the 21st century again. I have already placed this event on my calendar for next year. Why don’t you come along.