“These men with light eyes and hairy faces are here now…We can kill them off, but more will come. They are like ants. Trample them and more will come out. My advice is that we, the Absarokee, treat these ‘light eyes’ kindly and give them protection from other Tribes. Some day they will reciprocate and be our friends. Give your daughters to them as wives. In time, their children will have their blood and ours; and they will be strong and wise and grow up to be our future leaders.”
This quote was told by one of my grandfathers, Dr. Joseph Medicine Crow. It is printed in the book, ‘Little Bighorn Remembered; The untold story of Custer’s Last Stand’, in which he is a contributor. The original source is unknown, as my grandfather just mentioned a Crow Chief was known to say; perhaps he mentioned it in conversation but as a young child I may not have been paying attention.
As Little Big Horn College is located on the Crow Reservation, where the battle occurred, the 150th anniversary of the Battle of the Greasy Grass will be a greater remembrance than it has been. This anniversary is commemorated every year, no matter how much time has passed since that fateful day for Custer and his seventh calvary. This year in honor of the 150th Anniversary, Little Big Horn College hosted a symposium dedicated to telling the battle from different perspectives, especially welcoming the Hidatsa and Arikara Scout descendants, as well as the Crow Scout descendants. And although Little Big Horn College does not have a specific event we host annually, we support other events in the community such as rodeos, powwows, and parades. There is also the famous ‘Ultimate Warrior Competition’ that brings out the best Native athletes to prove their skills in competition with each other. The Real Bird family also reenacts the battle on the battle site that is part of their family land. We welcome the Cheyenne and Sioux warriors every year on the day of victory as they ride on horseback from their lands to the site of the battle.
Although this historic site is Crow land, the Crow themselves were not in the battle to fight but to work alongside the ‘light eyes’ and keep the claim to their land where the government had placed them. This quote is reality for me. I myself am part non-Indian but still able to be enrolled with the Crow Tribe. I am a direct descendant of Crow Scout Whiteman Runs Him and have grown up in a great family that is known to be respectful and hard workers and to be leaders among our own people. Hard work is expected of us all and we pass the traditions and knowledge from generation to generation.
As a leader within Little Big Horn College, my vision is to unite everyone and be kind to all for the betterment of the future of our people. I am still a Crow Indian with much respect to those Tribes that fought the battle to keep their livelihood and traditions alive, but approach the ‘light eyes’ with the intention of creating partnerships for the betterment of our college and our people. This battle will forever be a part of my identity.
Patricia Whiteman, Interim President
Little Big Horn College, Crow Agency, Montana
(Direct Descendent of Crow Scout Whiteman Runs Him)
