Day Three (Nioókska)

After school yesterday, we all headed over to the buffalo jumps. The buffalo jumps are a historical site where Native Americans used to run buffalo off of cliffs as a hunting tactic. Upon our arrival, we started hiking towards the top, but were soon stopped by a mysterious stranger. To our surprise, the man turned out to be a member of the Blackfeet tribe, named Marvin, who's family has lived in the area for centuries. He stopped our group because he owned the land that we were hiking on. To him, like most Blackfeet natives, this land has a significant historical value to their people. Everything on the surrounding land of the buffalo jumps is considered to be highly sacred, including buffalo bones, arrow heads, and the land itself. After explaining how our group was staying at the holy family mission, Marvin decided to give us an impromptu tour of the buffalo jumps. He provided great insight that we would not have had a chance to learn about. Not only did he expand our knowledge of the history and culture of the Blackfeet tribe, but he also lead us safely to the top of the jumps. The view was unlike anything any of us had ever experienced. 

Despite a rocky first impression, the experience turned out to be mutually beneficial. For us we were able to broaden our knowledge and explore the land. For Marvin, he was able to share with us the tradition, history, and pride of the Blackfeet culture. Following the tour, Marvin mentioned how he was grateful for this opportunity, because sadly this opportunity does not happen often. Now a days, the younger generation of the Blackfeet tribe do not appreciate the value of their ancestry. Thanks to people like Marvin, there is a hope to continue to keep passing on the traditions and culture of the Blackfeet.

Sincerely, 

Jonah, Isabella, and Ian