Join a Grand Montana Celebration – The North American Indian Days Festival Kicks Off

Now in its 59th year, the North American Indian Days Festival takes place from July 7 to July 11. Native Americans from across the region gather in Browning to visit one another and share the major events of the past year. The festivities kick off with a grand parade, where everyone dons their tribe’s most formal and ornate traditional clothing, with vibrant face paint, to join in the celebration. Native American dance is the main competitive highlight, featuring the Fancy Dancing that mimics the flight of birds, the Grass Dancing unique to Native men, the Jingle Dancing inspired by personal visions, and the Traditional Dancing performed by women – all showcasing the solemnity of the tribal gathering.

The Native American people have always taken pride in their bravery and skill in battle. Horseback riding competitions, lasso performances, and bustling marketplaces are also major draws of the festival. Participants in horseback competitions wear traditional battle dress, riding at full speed, leaping and galloping without falling thanks to their skilled horsemanship and daring courage. Lasso performers leap from speeding horses to accurately lasso fleeing bison calves. Meanwhile, the most popular attraction for visitors is the market fair, where Native artisans from various regions sell handcrafted goods such as necklaces, bracelets, rings, carvings, hand-painted artworks, and decorative items.