9 minute read
INDIAN NATIONS
THE CROW AND NORTHERN CHEYENNE
SOUTHEAST MONTANA IS A HUB OF AMERICAN INDIAN CULTURES, WITH TWO OF THE EIGHT TRIBAL NATIONS IN MONTANA LOCATED ONLY A SHORT DRIVE FROM BILLINGS.
The Crow and Northern Cheyenne Indian reservations are full of scenic landscapes with outdoor recreation opportunities, battlefields with storied histories and modern expressions of cultural heritage through local artisans and powwow celebrations. Visit the reservations to learn more about the people—and experience firsthand the traditions—of the tribes that call Montana home. The two reservations are located adjacent to one another and lie along the routes of U.S. Highway 212 and I-90. If you are traveling east from Billings, the first reservation you will encounter is the Crow, followed by the Northern Cheyenne.
The Crow Reservation was established by treaties in 1851 and 1868, while presidential order created the Northern Cheyenne Reservation in 1884.
Photos – Top: Crow Fair, Allen Russell; Bottom Left: Crow Fair, Montana Office of Tourism and Business Development; Bottom Right: Crow Fair, Montana Office of Tourism and Business Development
OUT HERE
CROW FAIR
The 102nd annual Crow Fair Celebration Powwow & Rodeo will be held August 14–17, 2020. The Apsáalooke (or Crow) Tribe hosts parades, a four-day powwow, a rodeo and horse races at the “Tipi Capital of the World” in Crow Agency, near Hardin. Crow Fair is the largest tribal event in Montana and one of the largest in the nation, with thousands attending this epic celebration.
THE CROW The Crow people call themselves Apsáalooke, which means “People of the Large Beaked Bird.” Early translators misinterpreted this name as “Crow.” The reservation encompasses many renowned historic and recreational sites, including Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument, Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area, the Bighorn River and Chief Plenty Coups State Park. It is also home to the worldfamous Crow Fair Powwow—the Teepee Capital of the World—and Crow Native Days, which takes place on the anniversary of the Battle of Little Bighorn. The Crow Reservation is one of the largest in Montana, and the Crow are one of the few tribes who were allowed to remain on their ancestral land.
NORTHERN CHEYENNE One of the most striking feature of the Northern Cheyenne Reservation is the terrain created by the Wolf Mountains. The range runs across the reservation and helps make this one of the most beautiful reservations in eastern Montana. A visit to the St. Labre Indian School and Museum in Ashland will help you learn the amazing story of how these people escaped captivity in Oklahoma to return to Montana. Places of interest on the Northern Cheyenne Reservation include Chief Two Moons Monument near Busby and the Jesse Mullin Picture Museum in Lame Deer.
POWWOWS Nothing exemplifies the beauty of American Indian culture like a powwow. In modern times, the powwow has come to represent the honor and respect American Indians have for each other and for their traditions. When visiting a powwow for the first time, you will notice that the powwow singers are held in high regard. These singing groups consist of several men sitting in a circle around a large drum. Each man has a baton that he uses to beat out the rhythm of the song they sing in unison along with the drum. The groups often include both older and younger tribal members, as the younger singers are being taught the songs and the traditions of the powwow. You will also notice that the drum groups wear plain clothes. Only the dancers will be wearing the bright colors and traditional garb normally associated with powwows.
CEREMONY ETIQUETTE There are a few things to remember about visiting a powwow or other American Indian events that will help you get the most out of your experience. First, don’t expect events to begin exactly when they are supposed to. As with many cultures around the world, time in Crow and Northern Cheyenne cultures is more fluid than many people are accustomed to. Also, be cautious when taking photos. Rules for photography can be different from tribe to tribe and from powwow to powwow. If there is any question about whether photography is allowed, be sure to ask somebody involved with the management of the powwow. Finally, shop local. Immerse yourself in the experience by eating at local concession stands, shopping at local arts and crafts displays, and buying raffle tickets. You may have to pay a small fee to watch the powwow, but the effort put into the event by the dancers and the management team far outweighs the financial compensation they receive when sharing their culture.
1. ST. LABRE INDIAN SCHOOL AND MUSEUM The school made a humble beginning in 1884 with the construction of a log cabin school building operated by four Ursuline Sisters. The original three-room cabin served as a residence, school, dormitory and church. Today, St. Labre is responsible for the welfare and education of nearly 700 American Indian children. A visit here includes the stunning St. Labre Indian Chapel (inspired by the teepee of the Plains Indians) and the Cheyenne Indian Museum, featuring Plains Indian artifacts. Visitors are welcome. For more information on hours and tours, see stlabre.org. 2. CHIEF PLENTY COUPS STATE PARK Plenty Coups (Aleek-chea-ahoosh, meaning “many achievements”) was a man whose vision helped bridge a gap between two cultures. Having been recognized for his bravery and leadership, he was made a chief of the Apsáalooke (Crow) Tribe by age 28. In 1884, Plenty Coups chose to give up his nomadic way of life, and through the Indian Allotment Act, was deeded a 320- acre tract of land to develop and farm. Per the wishes of Plenty Coups and his wife, the site of his homestead has been transformed into a state park. The park includes the farmstead, home, museum, interpretive center and a sacred spring surrounded by bushes, where prayer bundles are often placed. 406.252.1289, stateparks.
mt.gov/chief-plenty-coups
4. CHEYENNE VICTORY DAY CELEBRATION The Battle of Little Bighorn, which is also known as “Custer’s Last Stand” and as “Where Long Hair Was Wiped Away” by the Northern Cheyenne, is consider to be the most decisive Native American victory in Northern Cheyenne and Sioux history. Today the Northern Cheyenne celebrate the defeat of “Long Hair” (Lt. Gen. George A. Custer) by telling stories, performing the victory dance plus traditional Indian Relays, hand games and more. The celebration takes place every year, on June 24-25, in the small town of Busby, located on the Northern NATIVE SIGHTS AND EVENTS 5 Island Park Ashton Spencer Rexburg Idaho Falls Salmon Arco Beach GLACIER NATIONAL
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3. ROSEBUD BATTLEFIELD STATE PARK Rosebud Battlefield, a National Historic Landmark, is associated with the Great Sioux War of 1876–77. It is considered to be the greatest Indian conflict ever to occur in America and is associated with the lead-up to the Battle of Little Bighorn. On June 17, 1876, the vast number of warriors and soldiers present at Rosebud Battlefield made the day one of the largest battles of the Indian Wars. There is a self-guided walking tour developed by Montana State Parks at the site. Take state Highway 314 toward Decker. Twenty miles from the junction of Highway 314 and Highway 212 is a sign for the battlefield site. Take the access road at the turnoff and drive 1.5 miles to the park.
406.757.2298, stateparks.mt.gov/rosebud-battlefield
Cheyenne Reservation. Guests are welcome to attend and participate.
5. CROW FAIR The annual Crow Fair Celebration is one of the largest gatherings of the year for the Apsáalooke Nation and is considered one of the largest modern-day American Indian encampments in the nation. The historical event, which has been held each year since 1918, is a time when Crow tribal members from across the world return to Crow Country to celebrate the Crow culture and traditional way of life. Crow Agency is known as the “Teepee Capital of the World” because of the hundreds of teepees in the encampment during the celebration. The event includes a powwow each night at the center of the encampment as well as horse racing, a daily parade, rodeo and Indian-relay races. crazycrow.com/site/event/crow
