Presentation of the Vore Buffalo Jump and performances of the Northern Arapaho presented this weekend at the Trails Center

CASPER, Wyoming. – Immerse yourself in Native American history and culture this weekend at the National Historic Trails Interpretive Center with a presentation at the Vore Buffalo Jump site on June 22 and Northern Arapaho songs and dances on June 23.

On Saturday at 1 p.m., Vore Buffalo Jump Foundation Board Chair Jacqueline Wyatt, PhD, will take visitors on a virtual tour of the Vore Buffalo Jump site. Used at a time when the lifestyle of Plains Indian tribes was changing and bison killings were almost obsolete, the Vore Bison Jump is one of the most important archaeological sites of late Plains hunters. Prehistory.

Excavations at the site reveal that thousands of bison were killed and massacred there between the mid-16th century and early 19th century. Bone pits from vore sites shed light on butchering at massacre sites and provide a record of the transition from stone to steel tools. The site also preserves the skeletons of dogs that were beasts of burden in pre-equestrian times.

On Sunday at 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m., the Little Brave Singers and Bull Dancers of the Northern Arapaho of the Wind River Indian Reservation will perform, showcasing the vibrant culture of the Arapaho people.

Dancers will perform traditional female and male dances, including chicken, fancy, grass and women’s bell dress dances. As the group performs, their master of ceremonies will describe each dancer’s performance to the crowd. Performances will take place outside on the Trails Center grounds, near the flagpole. Spectators are encouraged to bring their own lawn chairs and dress appropriately for performances.

Dancers pass on most of their regalia to younger generations, where many dancers begin dancing as babies in their parents’ arms, and then as soon as they learn to walk. By the age of seven or eight, many dancers will have chosen their favorite dance style. The Little Brave Singers and Bull Dancers travel together from state to state and attend community powwows across Indian Country.

Scheduled event

• June 21 at 1 p.m. (estimated) – Annual revival of the National Pony Express
• June 22 at 11 a.m. – The Way of the Plains Indians (Youth Program)
• June 22 at 1 p.m. – The Vore Site: Community Bison Hunting in a Time of Transition
• June 23 at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. – Shows by brave little singers and bull dancers

For questions, call the Trails Center at 307-261-7780.

The Trails Center is open 7 days a week from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. MST.
1501 N. Poplar St., Casper, Wyoming 82601
Free entry