Native American tribes gathered in southeastern Montana to commemorate the 150th anniversary [1] of the Battle of Little Bighorn.
The event serves as a vital reclamation of history, shifting the narrative from a military defeat of the U.S. Army to a celebration of tribal resilience and sovereignty.
Members of the Lakota, Northern Cheyenne, and Crow communities met near the Little Bighorn River, close to the Crow Agency [1, 2]. The commemoration took place on June 25-26, 2023 [1, 2], exactly 150 years after the original conflict occurred on June 25-26, 1876 [1].
Participants honored the victory through a series of traditional activities. The gathering included horse rides, battle reenactments, and the performance of traditional songs and dances [1, 2]. These activities were designed to preserve generations of oral history and honor the ancestors who fought in the conflict [1, 2].
Also known as the Battle of Greasy Grass, the encounter remains one of the most significant military engagements between the U.S. government and Indigenous peoples [1, 2]. For the participating tribes, the anniversary was not merely a historical marker but a way to celebrate the strength of their ancestors, a victory that underscored the fight for their lands and way of life [1, 2].
The event brought together multiple tribal nations to share in the cultural legacy of the battle. By focusing on the indigenous perspective, the commemoration highlighted the tactical success and bravery of the combined tribal forces during the 1876 engagement [1, 2].
“The event serves as a vital reclamation of history.”
This commemoration highlights a continuing shift in how American history is recorded and remembered. By centering the 'Battle of Greasy Grass' and the resilience of the Lakota, Northern Cheyenne, and Crow people, the event challenges traditional US-centric military histories and emphasizes the importance of Indigenous oral tradition in preserving historical truth.
