Michael LaFromboise Talks About Blackfeet Culture

On Friday, October 11, the Brinton Museum presented a lecture by Michael LaFromboise, Blackfeet Tribal historian, who talked about the Blackfeet history and culture. He has been at the Brinton before in 2021, as a part of the Curtis Symposium, a display of Edward S. Curtis’ portraits from his North American Indian folios.

Introduced by Barabra McNab, curator of exhibit as Briton, LaFromboise stared his lecture in his lecture in his native tongue, and a traditional song.

He explained that the song came from the spirit of friendship. He said his grandparents befriended some people who lived near what is now the Fort Peck Reservoir. He said one question he always had was where his tribe got their tepee poles.

He talked about his tribe’s interaction with the Crow Indians, and that the Crow would load up poles and bring them to trade with the Blackfeet and the Blackfeet gifted them the song. He said today the song is also used in reverence for the United States flag.

He showed a photo of his mother’s side of his family, and pointed out one woman in the photo, which was his great-grandmother. He talked about how the youngsters learned in the Blackfeet culture.

He had a map showing where the Blackfeet once called their land, taking in much of Montana and around Glacier Park, and up into Alberta and Saskatchewan, Canada.

LaFromboise talked about the Blackfeet Grizzly Bear Shirt, one of which is on exhibit in The Brinton Museum’s to Honor the Plains Nations American Indian Gallery and the Blackfeet creation story.

Michael LaFromboise is a member of the Brave Dog society and is involved in all of the ceremonial activities that Blackfoot people practice including Medicine Lodge (Sun Dance), Thunder Medicine Pipe, Beaver Bundle and is the caretaker of the Black Tailed Deer dance bundle that Piikani people have adopted from the Salish and Kootenai peoples.

Around 40 people attended the lecture, which was followed by a ticketed, prix fixe dinner.

This program is Generously Supported By 44 North Construction Engineering Design.