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Marvin Dawes, shown at the battlefield, hopes the events draw young people. Reznet photo by Carrie Moran McCleary

The Indian Memorial

By Michael Beaumont

CROW AGENCY, Mont.-Crow tribal officials are busy organizing events leading up to the dedication of the Indian Memorial at the Little Bighorn Battlefield on the 127th anniversary of the battle.

Dedication of the Indian Memorial on the battlefield, a national monument on the Crow Reservation in south-central Montana, will take place June 25, the day in 1876 that bands of Lakota, Cheyenne and Arapaho warriors killed Lt. Col. George A. Custer and wiped out the U.S. Army 7th Cavalry.

The Affiliated Tribes of the Little Bighorn recommended that the memorial be dedicated June 25. President George H.W. Bush signed the authorization for the Indian Memorial into law in 1991, but funding became available only last year. The memorial recognizes the Indians who fought, on either side, in the battle.

The memorial's dedication is one of the concluding events in a weeklong celebration called Crow Native Days.

According to Marvin Dawes, assistant director of Crow Native Days, the tribe has approved numerous tournaments, running events and the annual Ultimate Warrior contest at the festivities.

"We've organized a lot of events so that we can attract the younger people," he said. "We want to get them involved so that they're not out on the streets."

The annual Real Bird Reenactment of the Battle of the Little Bighorn will kick off the celebration. Other events include arrow throwing, hand games, softball and basketball tournaments, running challenges, concerts and a rodeo.

The Ultimate Warrior contest has become popular since its inception in 2001. A total of $6,000 in prize money will be awarded to first, second and third places combined.

The 18-mile-long event involves riding a horse, canoeing in the Bighorn River and distance running. Each arm of the course is in six-mile increments and includes men's and women's teams.

Aside from physical challenges, event coordinators have organized cultural history demonstrations that will include Crow traditional food preparation and craftwork.

Vincent Craig, a Navajo musician and motivational speaker, is scheduled to perform at the event. Craig said he wants to spread his message to Native American young people.

"It is our duty to nurture our youth to not be afraid to express themselves through music, drama, literature to allow their dreams to take flight," Craig said.

Through the Crow Cultural Affairs office, Dawes said he has received inquiries about the event from Europe, Asia and Australia.

"The seven (reservations) of Montana all work together to promote tourism to the different reservations," said Dawes. "We've generated a lot of publicity through word of mouth and by attending different tourism conferences."

Anyone interested in information about Crow Native Days or the battlefield ceremonies can reach the Crow Cultural Affairs office at (406) 638-3774.

Michael Beaumont, Crow, attends Little Big Horn College in Crow Agency, Mont. This story and the graphic originally appeared in The Magpie, where Beaumont is a staff writer.