ST. IGNATIUS — With themes such as friendship, pride and honor flowing throughout the Mission High School gymnasium, students, faculty and performers celebrated Native American Heritage Week on Monday, Sept. 19.

The assembly, highlighted by a touching Sept. 11 speech, the St. Ignatius Dance Troupe and the drum group Bear Spirit, gave those in attendance an opportunity to think about life, in several facets.

Mass Corporal from American Legion Post 106, Robert Eckman, delivered a heartfelt speech, remembering the events of Sept. 11 and driving home the point of patriotism. The audience listened as Eckman told stories of heroes, both well-documented and nearly unheard of.

The feeling of national pride continued into the performances by Bear Spirit, led by Willie Pierre, and several dancers. Conducted by Ben Corral, dancers celebrated Native American heritage as Corral and Aileen Plant explained to the audience the meaning behind specific dances.

Following Eckman’s speech was the grand entry, where native dancers circled the gym, moving to the beats played by Bear Spirit. From there, the girl dancers took the floor with grass and fancy dance performances. Their male counterparts followed suit, with grass dancers Tristan Plant and TJ LaFrombois moving in a slower manner, while fancy dancer Louie Plant Sr. impressed the crowd with his quick, athletic, flamboyant style.

After each dance, audience members were picked out to undergo a quick crash course and then display their own abilities.

To wrap up the assembly, Corall invited any and all willing participants down to the floor to join in the Happy Dance, a circular celebration of all things good. As the drum beats came to a climax, the circle would join together and yell in delight.

“This dance is to remember things that went on in your life to keep things going,” Corall told the audience.

To Susan Batiuchok, Title 1 K-5 teacher, the assembly gave those in attendance a great opportunity to learn about national and native pride.

“Perhaps they’ll go home and talk about what it means to be a veteran,” Batiuchok said. “It’s also important that we have tribal heritage and unity as a nation in the United States. Native Americans have very proudly served our country and continue to do so.”

Corral felt students could take crucial values away from the inspiring performance.

“It opens a door for students and makes their minds expand a little bit more on their journeys in what culture is all about,” Corral said.

The students hopefully had something to take home with them, but they weren’t the only ones. The Friendship Force, an international club with 350 locations, including one in Missoula, welcomed a sister group from North Carolina for the performance.

“The purpose [of the club] is to understand the other people and their culture better, so that through understanding of each other, there’s less fear and less chance for hostile feelings,” said Mike Flanagan, president for the Missoula chapter.

Flanagan, along with incoming director Mary Barnett, welcomed Karen Hatcher from Raleigh’s Friendship Force for the festivities and they soon found themselves dancing with the tribes, as well as the students of St. Ignatius.

Batiuchok, also a member of Friendship Force, along with Mission Superintendent Bob Lewandowski, helped facilitate the force’s attendance at the event.

“The impetus of having this assembly today was the North Carolinians visiting and their availability was today only,” Batiuchok said. “We felt that this was something they really wanted to do.”

Monday’s performance also allowed the celebration of Native American Heritage Day to be grouped with the Sept. 11 remembrance event, as Native American Heritage Day would have normally taken place Friday.

According to Batiuchok, it’s an annual event, but the venue changes based on whether the assembly is based on a K-5 or K-12 audience.

“It’s important we recognize Montana’s first people and acknowledge the pride that students, teachers and the community have in that heritage,” Batiuchok said. “It’s important that as young people, they take it upon themselves to continue traditions.”

“It helps us to celebrate life,” added Aileen Plant who, along with Geraldine Felix, sponsored the event. “Not only for native children but for non-native people as well.”