University of New Mexico UNM Digital Repository History ETDs Electronic Theses and Dissertations 7-2-2011 Crow History 1700-1950: A Political and Social Battle ot Retain their Culture Alden Big Man Jr. Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalrepository.unm.edu/hist_etds Recommended Citation Big Man, Alden Jr.. "Crow History 1700-1950: A Political and Social Battle ot Retain their Culture." (2011). https://digitalrepository.unm.edu/hist_etds/7 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Electronic Theses and Dissertations at UNM Digital Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in History ETDs by an authorized administrator of UNM Digital Repository. For more information, please contact [email protected]. i CROW HISTORY 1700 - 1950: A POLITICAL AND SOCIAL BATTLE TO RETAIN THEIR CULTURE BY ALDEN BIG MAN JR. B.A., Rocky Mountain College, Billings MT., 1999 M.A., University of New Mexico, 2001 DISSERTATION Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy History The University of New Mexico Albuquerque, New Mexico May, 2011 ii AKNOWLEDGEMENTS In the Crow Nation, an achievement such as mine is shared with the community as a whole. Customarily, the first order of business is to give four gifts to a clan mother and father. However, because of my proximity to home, this task must wait, but as a Crow, much thanks goes to those Clan parents that have given many prayers for my success throughout my life. Secondly, my heartfelt thanks have to go to two men who have supported me throughout my college career, always giving encouragement and constructive criticism during hard times. Without the unquestioned support from Dr. Paul Andrew Hutton, whom I view as a Father figure, and Dr. Timothy P. McCleary, a Clan Brother, I would not be at this point in my life, and so to both of you I say A‘ho. I must also acknowledge other scholars and professionals that have helped me through this process. Durwood Ball has been exceptionally helpful to me, never hesitating when I asked him for help and Margaret Connell-Szasz who sat patiently and listened to my problems on more than one occasion. It is not in our customs to speak of the ones that have passed, but in this case, I must acknowledge a great mentor, the late Ferenc Szasz, who somehow gently nudged me along in my studies, and had a positive impact on my life. The staff members of the History Department at UNM need to be given much praise because they are an outstanding staff. Yolanda Martinez, a natural leader, has never steered anyone wrong, and for me, was a blessing in disguise. I could call her and talk to her about anything, and be assured I would get a positive response. Dana and Helen, as well as the others were great supporters of my journey, along with the various Department Chairs that have helped me, including Dr. Steen. iii The Crow Nation Education Department, under the various Tribal Officials needs to be recognized as they helped with emotional and financial support. Various Little Big Horn College staff and faculty members and tribal members who have helped and supported me include: Tim Bernardis, Mardell Plainfeather, Faith Bad Bear, Frenchy Dillon, Cliff Goudelock, Tom Whiteclay, David Bad Bear, Alda Goodluck, Dr. Janine Pease, Linda Pease, Willie Stewart, Dale Old Horn, Robert (Corky) Old Horn, the late Chairman Carl Venne and current one, Cedric Black Eagle and Dr. Joseph Medicine Crow. From Rocky Mountain College: Dr. Tim Lehman, Jim Bakken, Brad Nason, Jane Van Dyke and Carolyn Lopez. My wife Luzenia, daughters Acacia, Alyssa, Aiyanna and Annika, my father Alden Sr. brothers Gary and Travis and sister Nina deserve much credit for enduring the journey with me. Many times I practiced speeches on my family, but Acacia and Alyssa had to endure most of the speeches as they are the oldest of my children, impatiently sitting and listening, while I refined my talks on them. My family is large, but they must be mentioned: Mothers, Joann, Shirley, Vina, Vicki, Una, Rosella, Victoria, Aldora Big Man; older brothers: Richard, Henry, Artie, Al, Ernie and Gerald Reed. Basbaxia: Marie, Ann, Ferol and Coleen, and fathers Ben and Tim. My In-Laws Ronald and Roseline Yellowmule, and Leon Pretty Weasle Sr. Other brothers needing mention include Garlon Williamson, Elliot Mountain Sheep, Kent Blansett, Solomon Little Owl and the late Barry Wall. Grandmothers Ruth Alden, the late Hanna Big Man and Theresa Reed; Grandfathers, the late Arthur Big Man, Ernest Holds the Enemy and Fred Alden (Junior). Finally, without the unquestioned support of my late Mother Peggy Little Light Big Man, this work would not be possible. Each moment I wanted to quit, which was iv often, I remembered the words of my mother ―Make me Proud!‖ This work is dedicated to my family, especially my mother Peggy Little Light Big Man, ―I love and Miss you.‖ v CROW HISTORY 1700 - 1950: A POLITICALAND SOCIAL BATTLE TO RETAIN THEIR CULTURE BY ALDEN BIG MAN JR. ABSTRACT OF DISSERTATION Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy History The University of New Mexico Albuquerque, New Mexico May, 2011 vi ―Crow History 1700 – 1950: A Political and Social Battle to Retain their Culture‖ By Alden Big Man Jr. B. A., Rocky Mountain College, Billings MT, 1999 M.A., University of New Mexico, 2001 Ph.D. University of New Mexico, 2011 ABSTRACT In my dissertation, ―Crow History 1700 – 1950: A Political and Social Battle to Retain their Culture,‖ I argue that the Social and Familial Kinship system utilized by the Crow is unique, and helped the Crows to preserve much of their Culture throughout the turbulent times of direct contact and assimilation. In this research I examine the movement of the Crows from eastern woodlands onto the Northern Plains, with an emphasis on the separation from the parent tribe. I argue the Crow purposely create a new and unique maternally based social and familial kinship system because of the separation from the parent tribe resulting in the formation of the modern day Crow Nation. During the period of European Contact, I explore the interaction of the Crow with the various newcomers such as the Sioux and the Europeans, and argue that the Crow lived within the world of the Plains Indians, but also adapted to new world thrust upon them by the Europeans. Because of the social and familial system, the Crows were able to survive the assaults, both physically and socially which were intended to exterminate the Crow from the Northern Plains. The areas of critical examination include vii the various treaties, the late reservation period, and events that helped to retain the Culture of the Crow such as tribal politics and gatherings such as Crow Fair. My main argument is that the Crow reacted to major events in Crow history according to their social-familial system, and as a result, made significant choices resulting in the survival of the Crow Nation. Because the Crow were able to conceptualize their world completely, they reacted accordingly which helped them to continue to remain a strong and unique nation among many nations. viii TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction ………………………………………………………………1 Chapter 1: ―Apsaalooke Annualaalio: The Coming of the Crows‖..……17 Chapter 2: ―Early Crow/White Interactions‖……...…………………….40 Chapter 3: ―Crow Political Systems: Bacheechee………………………61 Chapter 4: ―Chiefs in Transition‖………………………………………..80 Chapter 5: ―Struggle Against the Sioux‖…………………………….....93 Chapter 6: ―Critical Events of the Late Nineteenth Century…………..118 Chapter 7: ―Crow Familial Systems…………………………………...136 Bibliography…………………………………………………………...163 ix Introduction In May of 2008, President Barack Obama, then on the campaign trail for the presidency, made a visit to the Crow Reservation.1 Although there are over 500 tribes in the United States, with seven of them located in Montana, Obama had decided on visiting the Crow. Although Montana has always been a Republican state, Obama, in an attempt to persuade Indian Country to vote Democrat selected the Crow Nation as a stopping point to accomplish this goal. This caused me to ask several questions including, ―Why the Crow?‖ Was it because of the fact that the Little Big Horn Battlefield National Monument is located on the reservation or was it because the Crow had always been on friendly terms with the U.S. Government? Or maybe there was something else that made the Crow so appealing to Obama and his bid for presidency. Maybe it was this ―something‖ that had drawn not only the future president of the United States to Crow Country, but also a long list of scholars‘ eager to study this tribe. Not only do the Crow retain much of their language, but they also hold a unique social event every year that draws thousands of people from around the world known as Crow Fair. The celebration has never been intended for commercial purposes, but is actually an event that unintentionally has preserved a unique and distinct culture.2 The Crow or Apsaalooke have always been an intriguing people, and once the expansion of Euro-Americans intensified, they were sought after for their fine robes and ornaments by traders and trappers. The Grand Entrance they exhibited when they 1 Billings Gazette, May 20th, 2008. 2 Rick and Susie Graetz, Rick and Susie Graetz, This is Montana: A Geography –Geographic history of Montana, Volume 1 (Northern Rockies Publishing: Helena, MT, 2003), 17. 1 approached a village or post set them apart from other tribes.3 Many of the early explorers that encountered the Crow were greatly impressed with their stature and ability as warriors.