Imagine standing on the windswept plains of Montana, where ancient buffalo jumps echo the thunder of massive herds driven off cliffs by First Peoples hunters millennia ago—tools in hand that were as much a testament to self-reliance and marksmanship as any modern rifle. At First Peoples Buffalo Jump State Park, this March 21 event during Great Falls Western Art Week isn’t just an art show and final rock art hike; it’s a living portal to the unyielding spirit of frontier survival, featuring original works by the Kuka Family, including poignant pieces from the late Blackfeet artist Kingsley King Kuka. Kuka’s art captures the raw essence of Plains Indian life—buffalo hunts, eagle feathers, and ledger-style depictions of warriors with bows and spears that prefigure the self-defense ethos at the heart of the 2A community. The guided hike kicks off at 10 a.m., tracing petroglyphs that whisper stories of precision and provision, followed by the art show from noon to 3:30 p.m., where these masterpieces remind us that America’s indigenous heritage is steeped in the right to bear arms for sustenance and sovereignty.
For the 2A advocate, this event transcends cultural tourism; it’s a rallying cry against revisionist narratives that paint pre-colonial America as some pacifist Eden. The buffalo jump itself—a 1,600-year-old engineering marvel—demanded coordinated marksmanship and weaponry, much like the communal hunts that forged tribal resilience, paralleling our Founders’ vision of an armed citizenry as the ultimate safeguard. King’s Kuka’s works, blending traditional Blackfeet motifs with ledger art’s historical grit, underscore how firearms later amplified these ancestral skills during westward expansion, turning raw necessity into legend. In an era of urban elites dismissing rural traditions, attending this blends art appreciation with subtle advocacy—petroglyphs of atlatls and bows evolving into the lever-actions of Buffalo Bill’s era, affirming that 2A rights are woven into the American tapestry from its earliest threads.
Don’t miss this final rock art hike; it’s a chance to immerse in Montana’s wild heart, where art meets history and the ghosts of hunters nod approvingly at those who carry on their legacy. Head to First Peoples Buffalo Jump State Park on March 21—pack your boots, your binoculars, and yes, your concealed carry if you’re so inclined (Montana welcomes it). Events like this fortify our cultural bulwarks, proving that celebrating indigenous marksmanship isn’t appropriation—it’s appreciation of the timeless Second Amendment truth: an armed people endure.
