Park's Native America Speaks program
Blackfeet, Salish, Kootenai and Pend d'Oreille tribal members will once again share their knowledge of the history and culture of Native America with Glacier National Park visitors this summer as part of the 2011 Glacier National Park Native America Speaks program.
Free 45-minute campground programs will be offered in the campgrounds at Apgar on Mondays, Many Glacier on Tuesdays, Two Medicine on Wednesdays and Saturdays, and Rising Sun on Thursdays. Programs will start at 8 p.m. except Aug. 14 when programs will begin at 7:30 p.m.
Speakers include Kenneth Eagle Speaker, a Blackfeet/Blood from southern Alberta and Browning; Vernon Finley, a member of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribe who works on the Kootenai Cultural Committee; Jack Gladstone, a Blackfeet singer/songwriter from St. Mary and Kalispell; Brad Hall, a Blackfeet tribal member and educator; Ernie Heavy Runner, a Blackfeet storyteller from Browning; Gen Huitt, a Pend d'Oreille singer/songwriter from St. Paul, Minn.; and Edward North Peigan, a Blackfeet speaker and teacher of language and culture.
The Native America Speaks program also offers three programs offered at other venues:
• Blackfeet tribal member Roger Vielle will present a new program on "Memories of the Circle" in a tepee outside the St. Mary Visitor Center on Tuesdays and Fridays at 2 p.m. through Sept. 2.
• The Two Medicine Lake Singers and Dancers, led by Joe McKay and Ray Croff, will provide insight into contemporary and traditional Blackfeet history and culture through narration and fancy, jingle, traditional and grass dance demonstrations at the St. Mary Visitor Center on Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m. through Aug. 10. Tickets are $5 (free for children 12-and-under) available at the St. Mary Visitor Center Bookstore. Seating is limited.
• Jack Gladstone, a Grammy-nominated Blackfeet singer/songwriter, will present his "Buckskin PoetSongs" program in the Lake McDonald Lodge Auditorium at 8 p.m. on July 1, 15, 22 and 29, Aug. 5, 12, 19 and 26, and Sept. 2; at the Many Glacier Hotel at 8 p.m. on July 3, 10, 17, 24 and 31, and Aug. 7, 21 and 28. Tickets are $5 (free for children 12-and-under) available at the door.