Heart Mountain Pipe Ceremony
When Grant Bulltail learned that the Nature Conservancy held the Heart Mountain Ranch as a public land trust, he wanted to hold a Pipe Ceremony on the mountain. He realized that Apsáalooke (Crow) tribal members could rebuild their connections 120 years after their removal from the region, relearn the story of Foretop’s Father (aka Heart Mountain) and reconnect with its healing power. He asked Crow singers and dancers to revitalize the energy of the mountain and stir the hearts of the people gathered. Grant created an opportunity for all ecologically concerned people to gather and make a good ceremony, contributing their energy to help restore the mountain impacted by the changes in temperature and weather that Grant was witnessing.
This was the first in what has become an annual celebration of the Return to Foretop’s Father.