Native American Culture Day held at Superior Schools

Superior history teachers Chris Clairmont and Vicky Nytes attended the Montana History Conference last September, where they learned about the Traveling Medicine Show, a program from the Glacier Art Museum.

The initiative brings members of the Blackfeet Tribe into schools to share presentations on their culture and history. Inspired by what they heard, Clairmont and Nytes arranged for the program to visit Superior School, featuring presentations by “Smokey” and Darnell Rides At The Door, Steph Gillin; a wildlife biologist from the Flathead Reservation, and Chris La Tray, the current Poet Laureate of Montana.

“We listened to La Tray speak, and he really inspired this whole day,” said Clairmont, a member of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes who grew up in Ronan. “He just released his third book, "Becoming Little Shell," and everything he spoke about hit home for me. It was like learning to be Native again.” 

Clairmont hopes this becomes an annual event. 

“Next fall, we’re planning to include traditional meat preparation while explaining how every part of the animal was used.” 

Native Americans found over 250 uses for the buffalo.

Darnell Rides At The Door, also known as NiiTooKimNee (Lone Camper), is a respected Pikunii (Blackfeet) elder from the Buffalo Chip Band. Apprenticed to her elders, Darnell is committed to preserving and sharing the Pikunii worldview. As an Ookaan (Medicine Lodge) Thunder and Beaver Medicine Woman, a painted lodge owner, and a member of several Pikunii core groups, she provides cultural consulting in education, tradition, and ethnobotany.

Also a certified massage therapist and Reiki Master, Darnell is the matriarch of a large, accomplished family. She and her husband, Smokey, live west of Kipp’s Lake near the historic Springhill Campsite and run a cultural consulting business. She was also a contributor to the book "People Before the Park" and is recognized as an ambassador of goodwill for the Blackfeet Nation.

Smokey Rides At The Door, or Esstaakawn (Dependable; Works for the People), belongs to the Buffalo Back Fat Band of the Ampskapii Pikunii (South Peigan/Blackfeet). A traditional historian and educator, he carries on the oral traditions and storytelling of his warrior grandfathers. Smokey is an experienced educator, coach, business leader, and tribal councilman, with a background in industrial arts, history, and business. He too serves as an ambassador of goodwill and finance for the Blackfeet Nation.

During her presentation, Darnell explained the symbolism of tipi paintings, using a scale model to illustrate how colors and designs convey stories about the tipi’s owners. 

“Blue paint comes from duck poop, and red from certain rocks,” she said, as students reacted with surprise and curiosity. S

he also clarified that tipi is a Sioux word — Blackfeet people have their own terminology. 

"It takes 18 buffalo hides to make one tipi, and women engineered the conical structure using 21 poles. The Blackfeet and Crow start their tipis with four poles; other tribes use three." 

As the bell rang for the next class, Darnell left students with one final surprise.

“Cattails can treat diabetes,” she said, sparking stunned reactions across the room.

Smokey shared personal and historical insights, including stories about Indigenous children sent to boarding schools like the one in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. He approached this difficult history with reflection rather than resentment. 

“We’re all equal; birds, plants, humans, water. Everything deserves respect.” 

Addressing the class, Smokey asked, “How many hunters are here?” 

Several hands raised in the air. 

“You know why the best hunting is when it’s 10 below zero? Because nobody else is out there!” 

The room erupted in laughter. 

He concluded with a piece of wisdom. 

“Be like the buffalo. Face the storm head-on. Because on the other side, there’s sunshine.”

Darnell continued the day’s theme of storytelling through the stars. 

“We’re sky-watchers. The moon is female in our culture. She’s the mother of the seven boys that make up the Big Dipper. Their father is the sun. Those boys, always on the run, created the earth, the water, the hurricanes, the great oceans. That’s why we honor them,” she smiled as the students left. 

“Winter is when we do most of our storytelling. There’s always more to share.”

    “Smokey” Rides At The Door shared the tribal leader’s echelon and covered their honor code and respect of all nature. (Monte Turner/Mineral Independent)
  

    Darnell Rides At The Door used a tipi display to explain what the artwork meant in its different colors and locations. Where, on the inside, the people slept that had significance importance for catching their dreams.