Montana in July and August becomes a vibrant tapestry of Native American culture, offering a series of authentic northern pow wows every weekend. These gatherings, open to the public, provide an unparalleled opportunity to witness and appreciate the rich heritage of the Northern Plains Indians. Whether you choose to travel the scenic "high road" or the "low road," both routes promise breathtaking landscapes and iconic landmarks, leading to an unforgettable cultural immersion experience. The Montana High Line Pow Wow circuit is a summer staple for those seeking authentic cultural experiences.
The term "High Line" refers to the BNSF Railway (originally the mainline of the Great Northern Railway) and U.S. Highway 2, the northernmost highway in the United States, which serves as a convenient route connecting these culturally significant events. For over two months, a pow wow or two will be accessible to the public each weekend. The Montana High Line Pow Wow circuit offers a diverse range of experiences.
1st Week of July: Arlee Celebration
The Montana High Line Pow Wow season traditionally kicks off with the Arlee Celebration, a deeply rooted tradition always held during the first week of July to coincide with the Fourth of July holiday. Anticipation builds as campers begin arriving as early as the Thursday before the Fourth, transforming the area into a bustling community that extends through the weekend following the holiday.
Arlee proudly claims the title of the oldest continuously held pow wow at the same location in North America. The year 2007 marked its 109th consecutive year at its current site. The location is rich in historical significance, situated near the renowned Lolo Pass Trailhead. The Fort Fizzle Historic Site Picnic Area runs parallel to the historic Lolo Trail, once traversed by the Nez Perce, Salish, and Kootenai tribes, as well as the Lewis and Clark expedition. Visitors can explore interpretive signs and hiking trails that lead to fishing access points.
A short distance away lies Fort Fizzle, a historical landmark that tells a tale of strategic miscalculation. This wooden barricade was hastily erected on the Lolo Trail by Missoula volunteers, led by Captain Rawn, with the intention of halting the advance of Chief Joseph during the Nez Perce War. Despite having explicit orders to prevent the Nez Perce from passing, Captain Rawn’s efforts were thwarted when the Nez Perce, skillfully navigating their horses and possessions, ascended a steep ravine behind the ridge to the north, effectively bypassing the soldiers. This strategic maneuver earned White Bird the nickname "Indian Hannibal," and the previously unnamed barricade became derisively known as "Fort Fizzle."
The nearby town of Frenchtown offers additional attractions, including a public 18-hole golf course and St. John The Baptist Catholic Church, a 104-year-old church that holds the distinction of being the oldest church in Montana still in use.
The Arlee 4th of July Celebration grounds are conveniently located east of Highway 93 at the southern edge of Arlee. To reach the grounds, turn east off Highway 93 onto Pow-Wow Road and travel approximately 0.5 miles east.
2nd Weekend in July: Blackfeet North American Indian Days
As the Arlee Celebration draws to a close, a wave of activity shifts eastward as craft vendors and competition dancers make their way over the mountains to Browning, Montana, the Eastern Gateway to Glacier Park. They arrive to secure prime camping spots on the pow wow grounds alongside local residents for the Blackfeet North American Indian Days, held the weekend following the Fourth of July (the second weekend in July). While the official camp day is the Thursday preceding the second weekend in July, many eager participants begin arriving even earlier.
Camping on the pow wow grounds in tents or RVs is offered free of charge. Campers are asked to respect the designated markers of traditional families’ campsites. The camping facilities are basic, with outhouses and a limited number of cold-water spigots provided. For those seeking more comfortable amenities, showers are available for a small fee at the local high school pool house, located a few blocks away.
Accommodation options in Browning include a small motel, a couple of private campgrounds offering shower houses and hookups, and several bed and breakfast establishments in the surrounding area.
For a unique and immersive experience, overnight and extended stays in a traditional Blackfeet tipi camp are offered at the Lodge Pole Gallery & Tipi Village from May to September. These camps, set in a pristine prairie environment, cater to individuals, families, and groups. The facility provides a shower house and a lounge-dining room for tipicamp guests. Guests can also arrange for traditional specialty and gourmet meals, featuring buffalo, antelope, deer, elk, or seafood. Amskapi Pikuni (Southern Blackfeet) cuisine is offered during the evening meal.
Browning serves as the headquarters of the Blackfeet Reservation and is home to the Plains Indian Museum and the renowned bronze sculpturist, Bob Scriver. It also marks the gateway to the eastern entrance of Glacier National Park. In 1895, the Blackfeet tribe sold the land that now comprises Glacier National Park to the government for mineral exploration.
Adding to the cultural landscape of the Blackfeet Reservation, artist Jay Laber has created a series of striking sculptures. Using scraps of rusted automobiles, bits of barbed wire, and stones from an old mission school, Laber crafted statues of two Native American warriors astride their horses. These sculptures stand guard at the four entrances to the Blackfeet Indian Reservation, welcoming visitors with a powerful visual statement.
North American Indian Days is the largest and most impressive of the Blackfeet tribal events. It attracts Native Americans from across the United States and Canada. The festival features traditional drumming and dancing competitions, the crowning of Miss Blackfeet, a parade, a fun run, and a variety of other activities.
Visitors can also arrange for cultural history tours to buffalo jumps, tipi rings, and other significant sites. Tours of the Museum of the Plains Indian, as well as activities such as horseback riding and hikes with a Blackfeet guide, can be organized in this reservation town.
For fishing enthusiasts, the reservation’s numerous lakes offer some of the best trout fishing in the world (a tribal permit is required). Anglers have the opportunity to catch impressive 10-pound rainbow trout, as well as brown and brook trout.
After a successful fishing trip, travelers can hop on Highway 2 and head towards Cut Bank. History buffs interested in the Lewis and Clark expedition will find this area particularly fascinating. Approximately 12 miles outside of Browning lies Camp Disappointment, the northernmost point reached by the Lewis and Clark expedition. Near Cut Bank, the Two Medicine Fight Site marks the location of the only Indian casualty during the journey.
Browning is situated on Highway 2 at the junction of Highways 89 and East Glacier Loop Highway 464. The pow wow grounds are located directly behind the Museum of the Plains Indian on Highway 2, making them easily visible and audible from Browning’s Main Street.
3rd Weekend in July: Kootenai Standing Arrow Pow Wow or Wahcinca Dakota Oyate Celebration
The third weekend in July presents a choice. The High Line crosses back west from Browning over the mountains on Highway 2 to the Kootenai Standing Arrow Pow Wow at Elmo, MT, adjacent to the beautiful Flathead Lake just 30 miles south of Kalispell, MT, at the western end of Glacier Park.
Alternatively, travelers can continue east on the High Line across the open prairie after the Browning North American Indian Days to the small town of Poplar, MT, for the Wahcinca Dakota Oyate Celebration, held on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation.
Along the route to Poplar, the Medicine Lake National Wildlife Refuge offers opportunities for exploration. Self-guided hiking trails and a 14-mile driving tour around the wildlife refuge provide scenic diversions. One tour stop showcases teepee rings of stone, estimated to be around 4,000 years old, marking the locations where Indian lodges were once built.
Another highlight of the refuge is a 100-foot observation tower offering panoramic views of the surrounding area. An observation platform equipped with telescopes provides a close-up view of the largest white pelican colony in Montana, home to over 10,000 birds.
Poplar boasts a free City Museum housed in the old Tribal Jail, built around 1920 and now listed on the historic register. The museum displays frontier and Indian artifacts within the cells, with a particular emphasis on the intricate beadwork and quilt work of the Sioux-Assiniboine people. Poplar is located 21 miles east of Wolf Point on Highway 2. Wolf Point also features an Indian and pioneer museum and the John Deere Tractor Museum. The Montana High Line Pow Wow circuit provides a rich cultural experience.