A second victory at Little Big Horn: Peace and Unity

LITTLE BIG HORN BATTLEFIELD, Mont. – For the second time in 127 years American Indians celebrated a victory at Greasy Grass or at the Little Big Horn River – the first was on June 25, 1876.

On June 25, 2003 a memorial was dedicated to the American Indians who died during the famous battle that ended with the death of Lt. Col. George Armstrong Custer and his immediate command. Few history lessons over the past 127 years have mentioned the victors with anything other than contempt.

It took until 1991 to have the name of the battlefield changed from Custer Battlefield to Little Big Horn Battlefield and that needed an act of Congress.

Protests and constant work by many activists, tribal leaders, and congressional staff people for 15 years finally ended with a memorial to the American Indian.

June 25 was a day for celebration, the dedication of a long awaited memorial, and a day in which there were more American Indians present at the site of the battle, the land called Greasy Grass by Cheyenne and Lakota, than there had been since June 25, 1876. Estimates for the total crowd ranged up to 9,000. In 1876 there were an estimated 9,000 – 10,000 Lakota, Dakota, Nakota, Cheyenne and Arapaho elders, women and children.

Many of the American Indians present in 2003, whether observers or participants in programs and ceremonies had ancestors that either died or fought during one of the most written about battles in American history. The new memorial became personal to many people.

Peace through Unity is the theme of the new memorial. It is not a memorial to war, but a memorial to peace, tribal leaders repeatedly said.

“The circle has now been complete,” said Carl Venne, Crow Tribal Chairman, in his opening remarks. He said that a chapter had been completed. The Crow warriors were scouts with Custer’s unit. Moderate criticism over the fact that they would be included in the memorial was tempered by the theme.

No negative words were heard from speakers or crowd members. Unity had indeed taken place in the minds and hearts of all American Indians, and with non-Indians who portrayed members of the 7th Cavalry.

At daybreak, descendants and others came to the memorial to pray, to bring in the day with a good message. Before the official dedication ceremony took place hundreds of American Indians, elders and children gradually gathered at the memorial to their fallen ancestors.

“We came to honor those who died here so that we may have peace and joy. To live together so we have an opportunity to see the freedom we have today. This is a happy day,” said Donlin Many Bad Horses, Northern Cheyenne.

“Ten years ago when we talked about this I never thought it would happen. I am happy so many people came out to see who we are and how proud we are. We are a proud nation. I am glad to be part of it.”

James Claymore lost one of his grandfathers at the Little Big Horn. Dogs Backbone died on the battlefield where Maj. Marcus Reno stood ground. On June 26 a marker was dedicated to Dogs Backbone, one of six red granite markers on the battlefield showing the location of a fallen American Indian.

“Our people gave their lives to preserve this land; to hunt and fish and visit. People died fighting for it like my grandfather. They left a legacy to us; that we should ferret out the goodness in people, not the negativeness,” Claymore said.

“They left the legacy of spiritual awareness to each other and in reference to our country, this land, the mountains, the rivers. We respect each of them.”

Nearly every leader or member of the Cheyenne, Lakota and Arapaho nations repeated much the same message – that it was a good day. The last time when a similar phrase was uttered was as Reno’s battalion attacked the village of 10,000 elders, women and children along the now famous Little Big Horn River – “It’s a good day to die.”

On that day some 1,500 warriors of the united tribes fought back and the defensive battle ended in victory. And from now on the estimated 400,000 yearly visitors to the park will be reminded who the victors were in that battle and hear the message: Peace through Unity.