Browning

Twelve miles from East Glacier Park Village is the Council Seat of the Blackfeet Nation.   Did I mention that there are no bad views around here?   

Browning (spread across the horizon) is located at the conjunction of US 2 and US 89.  It is the hub of the Blackfeet Reservation.  As the largest community it is home to tribal offices and business, in addition to the houses.

US 2, Main Street

Residential section

Community college

 Are casinos mandatory on reservations?

In a row on the main street are the Heritage Center,

Closeup of the sculpture at the right

This nice display of metal art,

and the goal of our visit, the Museum of the Plains Indian.  I quote,

"The Museum of the Plains Indian displays richly varied arts of Northern Plains tribal peoples including the Blackfeet, Crow, Northern Cheyenne, Arapaho, Assiniboine, Sioux, Shoshone, Nez Perce, Flathead, Chippewa, and Cree.  Their historic clothing, horse gear, weapons, household implements, baby carriers, and toys highlight the exhibits.  Founded in 1941, the Museum is administered by the Indian Arts and Crafts Board, an agency of the US Department of the Interior that promotes the development of contemporary American Indians and Alaska Native arts."

Wood carving just above the entrance.

Our $5 entry fee allowed us to view all of the above-mentioned articles, a room of contemporary art (for sale), a gift shop with modern paintings and jewelry made the "old" way with natural paints, quills, and seed beads, and a room with the artists at work where we could observe and converse with the artists, and of course, order or buy their wares.

Around the main lobby was this mural on all four sides.

Horse tack featuring seed bead work and quill work.

I got that far with my picture taking when Leola mentioned that there were signs all around saying No Photographs.  Yikes!  I asked the guy at the front desk about it.  He said (apologetically) that the Indian Arts and Crafts Board got to make the rules.  He said that anyone can contact them at blackfeetindianmarket.com to buy authentic Blackfeet arts & crafts online.

The Museum was small but nicely done--well displayed and nicely lighted.  The price was right and the staff very friendly and informative.  We enjoyed our visit, walked down the block to the IGA then headed home.  

Tomorrow we have something special planned.

Louise and Duane