Crow Indian Nation Fair

The Crow, also called the Absaroka or Apsáalooke, are a Siouan-language tribe of Native Americans who historically lived in the Yellowstone River valley. They now live on a large reservation south of Billings, Montana. Historically they had more horses (which equaled wealth) than any other plains Indian tribe. Today there are about 10,000 Crow Indians.

My wife was invited to photograph the event and we stayed with a Crow family who run The Center Pole, a non-profit organization, helping children in need on the reservation. It’s one thing to attend and watch the event as a visitor – but a completely different experience seeing it from the perspective of the participants. One of the best things I’ve ever done.

There is a large area where participants camp, most staying in identical looking white tipis. There were hundreds of the tipis. Families and friends camp in the same place every year and are surrounded by horses, dogs, tables and chairs. You can easily picture it as being very similar 500 years earlier.

During the day there is a morning parade through the campground with people dressed in their finest clothing – with many horses highly decorated. The entire family participates. There also some floats.

Then later in the day for the next 12 hours or so there is dancing at a central location. Several hundred people watch each individual event. There are dances for men, for women, for children, for different styles of dancing and where costumes are featured. In between dances the tribe presents awards for various things and there is also a trade area to buy souvenirs.

Absolutely beautiful to watch the spectacular dancers and especially the children.

Then between appearances the family members go back to their camp site and eat and visit. Everyone who dropped by was given food and drink and often a gift. The patriarch of our family (Peggy) had locked boxes of costume items and she decided who was going to wear what when. These are all hand made by the family of course and the workmanship was outstanding.

There was also a rodeo with the normal events plus something I hadn’t seen before called “Indian Race”. The jockeys all ride bareback. They go around the track three times (yes, racing at full speed bareback). The catch is that after each lap around the track, they must dismount (while riding at full speed) and jump up on another horse for the next lap. Three laps, three horses. It was amazing to watch.

We also had the honor to be taken to Eagle Point, a sacred spot on the Crow reservation; the place where Pretty Eagle, the chief that revitalized the Crows, is buried (after they retrieved his bones from the Smithsonian). It’s on a peak, overlooking the Big Horn River gorge – a place of incredible beauty and peacefulness.

The three day gathering was a wonderful family and tribe event that warms my heart to remember. If you ever get a chance to attend please do so.

My wife Kathy did several blog entries with pictures about our visit which you can see by clicking:
HERE (Day 1)
and
HERE (Indian Rodeo)
and
HERE (The moon is in my heart)
and
HERE (More on Grand Entry)
and
HERE (Crow Fair Dances)
and
HERE (Crow Family Affair)