Ojibwe Culture

Ojibwe Round Dance: A Resurrected Culture

The Great Falls Ojibwe round dances originated from those that left the Great Lakes region post 1864; and likely was brought over by the lineal descendants of the Rocky Boy Band of Chippewa and the descendants of the Businause Dodaim; subclan Migisew (Bald Eagle clan) Ojibwe.

The Hill 57 round dances were held in the area during the years of the Great Depression in tipis and houses on "the Hill" outside of Great Falls. Ojibwe leader Robert Gopher stated the families there would hold the round dances; the mature men of the tribe would sing the round dance songs; they would serve baloney sandwiches--all they had to feast on during the difficult years of the Great Depression.

During the 1950s to the early 1980s--the Round Dance was not actively practiced. Robert Gopher and his family restored the cultural tradition in 1983 and have sponsored these ceremonies since that time; on at least an annual basis. The Gopher family round dances have become a community fixture in Great Falls. They are always held during the first weekend of October. These annual events are held at the Family Living Building, Montana ExpoPark--the county fairgrounds just down the road from historic Hill 57.