Blessing of the Hunt revives old traditions with new twist

Saturday’s third annual Deerfest at Eureka has a different site but still aims to rekindle old traditions.

Deerfest 2013 celebrates the blessing of the hunt and for the third year in a row brings people from different cultures together to celebrate a shared interest.

“I wanted to come up with a festival that would be right in the slot where nothing is quite going on,” event founder Kenny Lee Lewis said. “It’s a little late for camping, fishing or biking, but hunting season is big; next thing to Christmas here.”

The festival began in the meadow in front of Lewis’ ranch near Fortine and featured a blessing of the hunt as well as music, food and drink.

“That first year we had planned to have a Kootenai holy man come up, but his transmission crapped out on the way up and I ended up giving the first blessing,” Lewis said. “I had never done anything like that before, but it was fun. That first year we had about 100 people, last year it was about 150 to 170, and this year we’re hoping for between 500 and 600 people. It just keeps growing each year.”

Part of the reason Lewis expects so many more people is due to a change in venue to Indian Springs Resort in Eureka.

“They’ve got a pretty big mailing list and we’re hoping to attract a lot more people,” Lewis said.

Last year the blessing was given by Mike Kenmille, a Kootenai holy man who is expected to give the blessing again this year.

“Kenmille came up and talked about what it was like for his family in this area,” Lewis said. “Their people used to have all this land, and now they’re pushed out onto reservations and scattered. What he had to say was very touching and brought people in the audience to tears. But they were very touched that we would invite them into this primarily white community and try and reach out to them. It was a very healing moment.”

This year the event will also include a presentation by a historian and archaeologist discussing what the area was like in the past, and Lewis said there are plans to add even more events next year.

“We’re hoping to add a hunting camp in the afternoon for kids,” he said. “Have things like archery, hide tanning, how to select and harvest an animal; sort of a Native American Boy Scout and Girl Scout kind of thing.”

Lewis said the idea for the festival came from his exploration of his own Native American roots and a desire to give something back to the community that took him in.

“I have Turtle Clan Mohawk in me, and I’ve been embracing that the last several years,” Lewis said. “Our ranch is right up in the Kootenai National Forest, and I got hooked up with some members of the tribe and invited them up.”

Part of the proceeds from the event will go to the Fortine Fire Department, part to cover the cost of the event itself and part to a project for installing a helipad at Pine Ridge for use by emergency services.

“We don’t have a lot up here, but we’re hoping to help out a little by doing things like this,” Lewis said. “It’s a way to reach out and a way for me to give something back to the community,” Lewis said. “I love this area, and this is the last celebration before big grandfather winter comes and blocks everything up; it’s our last hurrah.”

As part of that last hurrah, the event will feature a no-host bar and food, fireworks, bonfire and music by Hang Dynasty. Two of the band members are long-standing members of the Steve Miller Band, including Lewis and Billy Peterson. Other band members include Flathead Valley local Terry Brick.

“We play classic rock; things like Hendrix, Zeppelin, and of course, some Steve Miller Band,” Lewis said. “There’s going to be a raffle for some really great gear and the fireworks are as good as anything you’ll see at a Fourth of July celebration. The bonfire is great, and after the blessing, we open the bar and it’s a regular Montana party!”

Admission costs $20 for adults, $10 for children ages 6 to 12 and free for those 5 and under.

Contact the Indian Springs Ranch for tickets and information at 406-889-5056. Gates open at 4 p.m. and the event runs from 5 to 10 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 5. Indian Springs Ranch is located at 3082 U.S. 93 North in Eureka.

Reporter Melissa Walther may be reached at 758-4474 or by email at mwalther@dailyinterlake.com.