Buffalo Jump, Games, and a Scavenger Hunt

Jackson:

Today we went to the First People’s Buffalo Jump. First thing when we got out of the bus we had to get back in because they wanted to drive us to another part of the park where the cliffs were. When we got to the cliff we hopped out of the bus and a park ranger told us a few safety things like “Watch out for rattlesnakes.” or “Don’t step in the prairie dog holes.” So about halfway through our walk the park ranger said, “Who’s the fastest male runner?” So I raised my hand and he said “Okay, what’s your name?” And I said “Jackson.” Then he said “Okay well you’re the young man chosen by the elders, you have to lead your group.” Then we had to assemble into three groups, a group in the back that wore wolf suits [not really], and two groups on either side that had to hide behind rock walls [again, not really]. And then there was me. I had to dress up in a buffalo calf suit [I know that the "not relays" are kind of getting predictable so let's say I pretended]. The idea behind this is since I’m dressed in a calf suit and I’m making noises like I’m hurt, the alpha female [the males are off partying], will come try to rescue me and when she goes all the other buffalo follow. So I have to gradually pick up speed and then the buffalo start running and they eventually run off the cliff. So that’s kind of the concept of the buffalo jump. Thanks for reading!

Mariah: Today we went to play Blackfeet Indian games. It was amazing to compare how today we have Game Boys, X-boxes, and other video games, but back then they did not have that stuff–heck they didn’t even have electricity! We played games called “Shinny,” “Double Ball,” and “Scream and Run.” First we played Scream and Run. First you get your friends and some sticks, then you get in a line and scream and run as far as you can in one breath. So it was fun to see all of my friends screaming and running up a hill. The history behind this game is the Blackfeet would train their children to play at the front of the village and if they saw enemies they would well, you know scream and run!!! Next is Shinny, which is exactly like hockey but you get hit in the shins and you are on land. For Double Ball you use sticks and what looks like a squishy dumbbell. You try to run and throw the double ball over a high goal post.

After those fun games we came to Pine Butte Ranch to hike. They surprised us with a really fun scavenger hunt. It was challenging. We saw scarlet paintbrushes (a flower), claw marks that bears and mountain lions left in trees, and moose droppings.

I can’t wait for tomorrow to go find dinosaur bones.