Indian culture to be topic at conference
BROWNING — Áka, a
conference exploring the ancient cultures of the Blackfeet and the
northern Great Plains Indians, will be held Friday, Aug. 17 from 10
a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Cuts Wood School in Browning. The
conference is free and open to the public.
Leading scholars in the field of archaeology and Blackfeet
history will present compelling evidence to "contradict the commonly
held opinion by many Western historians that the Blackfeet are only
recent emigrants onto the Great Plains," said Dr. Brian Reeves,
professor emeritus at the University of Calgary's Department of
Archaeology.
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Presentations at Áka will
discuss when, how and where the Blackfeet originated and their
ancient history. Áka is co-sponsored by the Piegan Institute in
Browning, the O'Connor Center for the Rocky Mountain West and the
Native American Studies Department at the University of Montana.
For more information on the conference or directions to Cuts Wood
School, call Rosalyn LaPier at 406-338-7740 or e-mail rrlapier@pieganinstitute.org.
Lincoln to host art auction for clinic
BLACKFOOT VALLEY —
Buyers from across Montana and the West are expected to converge on
Lincolnfor the 26th Annual Blackfoot Valley Art Auction Aug.
10-11.
Many bronzes, oils, pastels and watercolors will be up for bid at
the auction, which raises funds for Parker Medical Clinic's
maintenance expenses.
The Blackfoot Valley Medical Services Association, which sponsors
the auction, has raised more than $335,000 for the medical center,
which provides medical services to the Lincoln community, according
to the Blackfoot Valley Dispatch.
The auction will be held at 8 p.m. both nights in Lambkins
Restaurant. There also will be quick draw events, where artists have
45 minutes to complete a work of art in front of spectators.
For those unable to attend the auction, artists also will display
their work at the Lincoln Community Hall as part of "Art in the
Pines" from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. both days.
Fort Benton will keep its slogan
FORT BENTON — Fort
Bentonwill keep its trademark slogan — "Birthplace of Montana"
until June 2012, when it can be renewed.
Mayor Rick Morris announced at a recent city council meeting that
the secretary of state's office awarded the moniker to Fort Benton.
Tourism boosters told the River Press that it's important for
communities to have a "brand" to identify the town. Located on the
Lewis & Clark and the Nez Perce national historic trails, Fort
Benton was first established as a trading post with steamboats
chugging along the Missouri River to Fort Benton for 30 years.
Once the world's innermost port, the outpost is now registered as
a National Historic Landmark.
The "Birthplace of Montana" slogan appears on the town's official
Web site and travel brochures.
Driver's ed teacher in Cut Bank resigns
CUT BANK — A void
left at Cut BankHigh School was created when driver's ed
teacher Scott Larson resigned.
A replacement for Larson has not yet been hired.
Superintendent Wade Johnson said the school will be offering a
summer program for future driver's ed classes starting next June,
but it: "cannot have someone teach this course without full
endorsement."
The Cut Bank Pioneer Press reports that the school is working to
fill other vacancies for the upcoming school year. Johnson said he
is confident the district will make the hires in time for the new
school year.
Johnson also announced that the district has hired a number of
new teachers and are transferring some teachers to other
departments.
greatfallstribune.com
