Sunday, July 26, 2009

Graduation - U. of Montana

When I attended Lori and Jamie's graduation back in the 90's, one of the speakers or perhaps The speaker was Dr. Joe Medicine Crow, a Native American Historian born in Lodge Grass Mt, 1913 (Crow). I enjoyed his talk though I don't remember a word.

Anyway, scientists scanning the Little Bighorn Battlefield a few years ago found a cheek bone and part of a skill. It had Native American features. Since the body was left on the battlefield, they knew it wasn't a Sioux, Cheyenne, or Arapaho, for they would have been removed by their people.
As Custer entered Medicine Tail Coulee before the battle, the Crow scouts realized what was coming and pulled off their uniforms wishing to die as braves, not soldiers. Arikaras and Crows they were - Half Yellow Face, Goes Ahead, Hairy Moccasin, White Man Runs Him, Curley and White Swan. They removed themselves from danger to distant ridge.
In trying to figure out who's skull this was they remembered a halfbreed by the name of Mitch Boyer who stayed with Custer and died, so the bone was identified. Mitch had earlier saved the life of Joe Medicine Crow's Step-grandfather, White Man Runs Him.

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