Blackfoot Radio

Hello all my relations and children my name is Bears Shoulder blade.

I am going to tell you my thoughts. Everything is from the outside now not too many people pray. Our gathering of the Indian days went well. The M.C. was good, also of how the committee put it together and Chief & Council helped out. It is good to look forward to these events and prayer is part of our lives. All different races pray to for us prayer and smudging, also pipe openings we all know that a lot of people healed with prayers. In the past before our ways started to change dirt we dig up to use in the smudge box, pipes and whenever we give out food. Now it would good for the Horn Society to fill their pipes and have Elders smoke and pray it would be for everybody, also give tobacco offerings to people and tell them this is for you to smoke and to put your teepee down. I don’t know of the Sundance encampment to do this to avoid trouble and for it to be a good Sundance. I heard today that there is going to be a Women Lodge. It will be good if this happens it will be just like the past of the horn society going to cut the centre pole and putting it up just like in the past of how we lived. It will be good I have nothing to say to the women lodge holder. They are right about how strong they believe in prayer why they follow the path. It is good we are going to have a women lodge. It is a joyful time it will be good if you look forward to this and go there for the old lady and the women lodge holder. There is no one that sings the songs of the women lodge. If there is someone it is really good. Follow the path of good and don’t spoil it. It is good to continue to follow the good path and not loose our native ways.

In the past the horn society would fast for four days that is what they follow, also they don’t ask for payment. In the past the women lodge holder would decide where the encampment of the Sundance would be and when the teepee and sweats will take place. The horn society members would go to the women lodge holder to find out when everything would take place. It would be really good if that should happen the women lodge going up at the Sundance. If that happens I am grateful to the women lodge holder. It would be really good if that happens.

The Blackfoot radio microphone was brought to me by this lady and she told me to talk of whatever I wanted to speak about. People break camp and move to the Sundance as soon as you see the leader put his teepee up. I heard it is going to be at the same place. The Blackfoot radio microphone I am going to sing for the women lodge holder. Listen to me that am what I am going to do.

Track 1 (5:21-7:37) singing and prayer

Everyone prays it is true we were all raised with prayer by our fathers and mothers. They gave prayer some people would bring us to a place for prayers and they pay them well for the prayer. Now it is not like that anymore everybody prays the white way. So try hard with the white way of praying it is good to hold on to prayer. The white man is right and our creator of how he created the earth. What he said we are still following so continue to pray and for the ones who passed on continue to pray for them and everybody else. The ones who come visit us from different places pray for them to follow the road home safely.

This lady who is listening she is my daughter I prayed for her to raise her children well, also not to be bothered by the days and nights. I was given prayer and I continue to pray for everybody. Prayer is not bad it is good. So everyone break camp and move to the Sundance and look forward to it. It is really good because we have nice weather then we will all be happy there. That is what I’m able to tell everyone all of what I said was good and never spoke bad today. I still continue to follow well of our prayer.

The Horn Society and Buffalo Women look forward to the Sundance they pray for everyone children, girlfriends, boyfriends, men and women. They still follow prayer and don’t ever stop. Our Blackfoot language it would be lonely if we lost our language so continue to teach your children the Blackfoot language. It would be very lonely if we lost our language and good to continue speaking our language. That is why we are natives our creator gave us the Blackfoot language. That is all I have to say so I greet everyone. Help yourselves, Help yourselves.

Hello I already told you about that I am happy about if the women lodge that is going to happen. I am going to tell you about how he admired and praised her. The one who was going to have a women lodge was around and Important man who was from Brocket. His daughter passed away his son-in-law was from here the Blood reserve his name Bear (referring to drooling mouth) he exerted himself to overcome. The women did a mistake of having a painted lodge. The woman was crying early that morning at the Belly Buttes. Towards nightfall some men who were Cree went there. Bull Shields went there and told her. What’s wrong? Why are you sitting here? She said something pitiful happened to me. I am not from here I am from Brocket. My daughter had bad luck here that is why I am sitting here her eyes were just red. That is what people did to have endurance in their body and to toughen it.

It was really felt when an loved one passes away Important Man was just red he really pitied them and tended to them giving clothes to wear. He told them down below the Sundance is going on and that is the place for people to be healed. Then he told her that he was going to admire and praise her. I will meet her there my name is Black Bull and am part Cree. He then praised and admired her people were at their camps noticing the praising and admiring going on. He had just said that was what he was going to do of praising and admiring her that set off a chain reaction others did the same. The woman who had gone away to toughen her body people went to her in acceptance by placing their hands over her head then placing their hands to their hearts. After that she got up making a shuffling sound she was going to hear some news. Getting there some were from different tribes looking around she saw Low Horn and Rider they too had admired and praised her. People from different reserves were brought there who were part Cree.

They were knocked off their horses and the ones who were knocked off were lead away their horses were whipped and they ran off. Everything that they had was taken away from them and then thrown to the ground. There was six of them in the past the six were defeated they were all from the east and dressed poorly. They ran off whenever someone went up to them to ask questions because they were afraid. They were still being knocked down and when trouble was near.

My father Low Horn and Calf Shirt would pick up snakes whenever people would greet him and would give them a timeline. My father rode over on a horse.

Those people were admired and he told my father in the summer had made you cry. Why are you reluctant to shake their hands it was because Calf Shirt had given them a timeline? He then told him you could have defeated them but you are too weak. They walked towards one another and were going to shoot, because they were arguing over the ones who did not come from here. They got after one another and were arrested. In one direction Ootkaapin was taken and the horse he was riding was trotting to one side and my father was taken in a different direction and the big Track 2 (6:52) his horse to was trotting to one side.

The people were saying why did they arrest them? We could have found out who is more powerful, because Calf Shirt picks up snakes and my dad had morning dreams. He was at the morning place. They were arrested and were lead away.

Red Crow was the leader and was going out there walking. He said why are you bothering them maybe you are going to kill them as they are walking down you could of killed them. Before you do anything to them let them go and get away from them and scatter. The people all walked away he went first to greet them then he set up camp. It has always been that our holy friends are put first. He told them to come over and brought to the camp. Wolf Child was part of that society. Then other people from other reserves were taken there. The ones who took them there said here are the ones who are from different places. They were told to bring them around the centre, but to take their belongings guns and to bring them to the centre. The ones who are finished being leaders bring them to the centre and give the things to them and they can take their belongings home.

The ones who are going to join the holy society have become friends. You still haven’t done anything for them. Nobody go there to rush them just look at them to admire everybody can do something special for them. People started bringing gifts of guns, gun bags and knifes they did not have to spend anything. They were taken in all different directions and became holy friends. They held a dance for them from the people and were all given something. Black Bull was there.
This is how I was told the story of how it happened so in the future you can tell this story. My name is Bears Hears this is one of the stories the elders told.

Hello I am going to tell a story of wrestling it shows what the story is. Some people don’t hear about it others hear about wrestling and shinning. Over there they had homes at Cardston near the bridge on the eastside. That was where they had homes and Black Face and Thunder Chief were there that was where the women lodge was going to be here he put his camp down. Thunder Chief was invited from the ones who were bringing things home. He was sitting on the ground and was counting sticks and counted 100 sticks. Track 3 (1:13)

That night Thunder Chief called a meeting and told the people tomorrow we are going to break camp there is going to be a women lodge. Yellow Bull is preparing the women lodge he had killed for the women lodge.

Their was wrestling around that night Thunder Chief called a meeting and told the ones who were breaking camp haven’t you noticed anything where were camped. The people said no we haven’t noticed anything. Then he said count the sticks there is a 100 Track 3 (2:14) Now we are going to call it now 100 willows home, because that was how we set it up. Here is the home of 100 willows that is why Thunder Chief named it. The location was at Red Boys place it is called 100. That was the reason why Thunder Chief broke camp. Here where the homes are. He was going down to check the blueberries, because the woman from the lodge needed some. That was why he was going down to check and they were ripe. He went westward then east and where it was rocky at the bridge he moved eastward. He moved to where autokaanist lived you know where it is Sao yo tsi piisko Track 3 (3:34). Further down is where niitskomik Track 3 (3:45) is where the woman lodge was and where they were wrestling. The police went there and arrested that is what started an argument. They did not argue, but were wrestling around. Here they were going to be arrested Big Road, Eagle Shirt and Calf Tail they were grabbed from the back when arrested. Calf Tail put his foot into the Lodge. When the woman lodge ceremony started the police went there Chris Lillards was a policeman known by the people as Tall he had three stars. Big Road and Eagle Shirt looked the same. Big Road got up and lit the pipe. Calf Tail was an informer, also known for picking up snakes he told Tall (Chris) there is Calf Tail he has the pipe. They looked alike he stuck his head in when the pipe was lit he held Tall (Chris) and they wrestled. Calf Tail ran out when outside Blackface was there he was riding a horse with white facial markings and was a beautiful horse that had a wide back and a tall horse. He ran to Blackface and told him can I jump on they are going to arrest me. So I can get away. Blackface got off his horse Eagle Shirt tried getting on the horse but was unable to because he wore the necklace. Blackface helped him get on the horse then he rode the horse southward.
They were still wrestling at the camp. First one killed was wrestling with Tall (Chris) and was being thrown around. The old woman jumped up and was holding Calf Tails

Track 4 (00:00-2:03)
Here is Many Shots he is going to talk to you now.

Many Shots

Hello Blood people, old people, young people your mothers and fathers love you. Quit the alcohol you will have a bad life with it. Tonight a girl who passed away from alcohol will be brought back. You are making the old people cry, because they pray for you and you continue to drink. The old people really help out by praying for you. I to pray for the young who are left and have bad luck from it the alcohol everybody quit the alcohol. That is what I have to say to the young people hear us old people we are disciplining you it is really bad. People die from alcohol it is really bad all you young people are beautiful, but you wreck your lives with alcohol. You don’t live well be smart and stay away from alcohol that is what I have to say to the young. To the girls who have children you don’t pity your children you leave them around and are not taken care of properly.

To the Chief and Council who are going to be selected it will be good for the people not to argue. If the old ones get back on they were doing a good job. I have known that people talk about the Chief and Council and complain about them. Let’s not spoil the work of Chief and Council they must be doing a good job why they were selected. I do not agree when they get sworn in they use the pipe on them that is what I do not agree with. We the people put them there our Chief and Council. The dance hall is big and there will be a lot of people who will go there to listen. This is when you ask questions so you’ll know if they should argue back. That is what I think soon as they start to understand then they have to quit, because they work for two years only. Some are put out and people say they did not do a good job. Track 6 (30-46)

Hello so you’ll know people you heard how he disciplines. Our old people are precious of how they speak to us. In the past you all know about our Sundance all the old people would be talking discipline everyone and encouragement we lead a good life with our old people. Our old people pitied us in the past how they pitied us the land they had hard times trying to hold on to the land. They knew the future children would use the land it shows today you hear me when I talk and say look closely at our old people they are not many now. So take care of them make sure they have food to eat and a warm house these are two important things in our lives.

So now what you heard he was right it is good these boys are teaching about alcohol that it is not good. They are still going they are trying hard to discipline us and talk about how bad their lives were with alcohol. Us we don’t recognize this it is called A.A. on the eastside they run this every Monday they all gather at Standoff they are all friends and are all friends and run it also. They call themselves alcoholic friends over at Lavern they do this also. The fourth one they meet every evening they talk about how alcohol is bad. They know because they are all friends and lead a bad life with it, but were able to overcome the alcohol. It is true it is bad and people enjoy it.

It is good what Many Shots said to go after for it to quiet down and in the past the young they pass on because of drinking. For us the Blood reserve there is too many places we are able to get alcohol. That is why these boys are inviting people there. Each time there is more and more people. It would be good for you to go and just listen I used to go just to listen. It is really good what they show about alcohol here in town I always walk around and am saddened of how they include alcohol in their lives and lead a poor life. It is bad there is nothing that it is good for we kill ourselves, wreck our bodies with it, and get us into trouble also, bad thoughts their is not one good thing about it. I am not saying for everybody to quit just ease off with the alcohol. White people know how to use it us we don’t know how to use the alcohol we just want to finish the bottle. It is dangerous now it is cold and the roads are slippery. A lot of people died in accidents because of alcohol.

It is good now that they are trying to stop and for it to quit down. Track 7 (2:13) northward where it’s always cold. Those Indians fought it and they won they don’t drink anymore. In the past we were (2:26) enforcing alcohol laws that is what it is like again. If a person is caught drinking or drunk driving will go to jail and has to pay a fine. If they are caught driving again they will go to jail for a long time. That is how hard it is for a person to quit they continue to drink. They had a bad life with it if they were able to fight it and win.

For us here we are many lets try to help it shows in our children of the bad luck, also some women. It is good to try hard and for someone to tend to it us natives it’s just like us of what we do of many things at once. The many lands I visited one of them Duck land it is the same of how bad their lives are with alcohol. The places I’ve been that is what they do the same. Others go to jail for a long time, because of alcohol others are killed from it. It is good now for someone to talk for us. It was good not to come onto the reserve with alcohol we did not sign for the alcohol. It was from the outside we did not sign, but were told alcohol was not allowed and now it is open and allowed. They had a meeting about it and said it would be hard to put a stop to it our children like to drink. Now let’s try to go after what these boys are doing well with A.A. of how they are running it. The ones who quit drinking are leading a good life.

This is what our old people want only good for us. Our children do not hear us and do not do as their told. These are what we are going to do by putting it first. If you have children and do not speak to them they are growing up on their own. That is what the old people of our past wanted for us to have a good life. So when they leave us so they will not have to worry about their children. This is what the old people thought and always disciplined us, because they pitied us. Now there is not a lot who discipline us at the dances our chief & council we tell them you are the police, also you can discipline and arrest. You never heard to discipline anyone our old people who spoke and told stories tell them to discipline everyone. So everyone will hear and their might be someone who will hear. Look at the past two months how many of our children through drinking. It would be good for everyone to try and stay away from alcohol.

I am not reluctant to say that our chief & council are trying hard to do the same. It is not good my relations it looks like the government our leaders just came in and poured what we don’t need and they blame us for it. The children who go to school on the outside they came back in with sniffing this is what they learned from the outside they found out to sniff gas. This is what we don’t know the hairspray is all from the white people and is what our children learn from the outside. I am not kicking against education it will be good for a child to go to school on the outside and will have a good life with it. If a child does not try hard and does bad things with their life is not good. That is why you were all asked about a school it won’t be long when we have a big meeting about it. You were all hired the people to help us and say we need to take back and need a native school. So we can start teaching our children about prayer. They are not being taught that now. You will be told who is going to be assigned they will tell you which day you will be invited to help just help out by saying we will take back education it is ours. The government they did not ask us they just came in and decided for us. Nobody said anything they have no rights to it. It belongs to us the Blood land we have a school here they are trying to take that away from us. Some people are resentful towards this let’s talk about it. Now we are going to talk, because you are all hired when we are done talking and the government agrees. We will talk about Chief Mountain and will take that back also.

It is good for our children to get an education also to include prayer so our children will be aware of the bad then they will be able to block it with prayer that they learned in school and stay away from the bad. Our children are not being taught they are just there and do not know about prayer.
That is what we want to hire you people for when we start the discussions we will inform everyone it won’t be long and we will talk about it. I am asking that you think the same and say we will take it back. We will stand in front and you the people will stand behind us. We are going to try real hard to take it back some are scared that we won’t have priests anymore. The white man might try to make that decision. My relations I am telling you that this might be another rumor the ones who work at the school they are all from different religions some from Cardston. They are saying if we take back education will they be chased out of the schools. No it is not true we are only talking about getting our education back. The ones who do a good job we are not going to talk about their religion. If they continue to do a good job they will keep working. The women who have jobs already there will continue to work. When Chief Mountain closed the ones who were working there were all laid off. So for our school to continue that is why my relations we started this I am one of them who was appointed. When we make an agreement and we will gather how it will run. The money from the grain it is used anywhere else. Every money that is used it is recorded and someone is appointed to place the monies and inform us of how much we have and how it is going to be spent. Some people ask for money from the church funds. The government tried to put a stop to this, but we were able for them not to have any say to the matters. Over at the other school we are talking about it to become Black Belt. When we get it back we will run it the same way again and teach our children prayer. Now the government is trying to stop this of teaching prayer that is why we want to include prayer in school. The holy ones will not go into the school that is when we will tell them that they can’t teach there. The priest said if we take it back they will have a school to teach your children religion. That is what was promised from the priest that is what I have to say today.
Track 10 (3:30-351) announcements.