This week, I was struck by an article about the passing of Chief Medicine Crow, the last of the Crow Indian War Chief, who lived to be 102.  He has an amazing life story.  As a historian of the Crow Tribe in Montana, he personally recorded witness testimony from Crow Indians who took part in the 1876 Battle of the Little Bighorn.  

Late in life, he could still share their stories in vivid detail.  A relative of his family served as a scout for George Armstrong Custer.  The title of the article of Chief Medicine Crow being the last Crow Indian War Chief really captured my attention. How in the 20th century would someone have realized that accomplishment?  Part of becoming a war chief in the Crow tradition involves accomplishing four deeds in battle.  He accomplished these while serving the United States during World War II.  One deed was showing mercy for an enemy he could have killed. The other involved stealing 50 horses from the Germans.   As he fought in World War II, he would wear his war paint and carry a sacred feather under his American uniform.

 I would have loved to have witnessed him stealing Nazi horses, a distinctly 19th century action in that 20th century conflict.  In 2009, President Obama awarded Chief Medicine Crow the Medal of Freedom, the highest honor that can be bestowed on an American citizen.  Check out Obama's introduction here.

 

I think it is worth drawing attention to his life and story as it reveals a few interesting things: First, he possessed a deep curiosity about his heritage and history that appears to have begun at an early age as he listened to the rich oral tradition of his people. Second, education was a priority for him as he was the first of his tribe to receive a college degree. Next, Chief Medicine Crow was called to service.  He not only served his country with distinction in WWII, but also for the Bureau of Indian Affairs. He gave many talks to school groups about his story and his cultural heritage. And last, Chief Medicine Crow reminds of us how young our country is in some ways.  He was the last link to a different world, but a world that has shaped our own 21st centruy reality. He reminds me of the importance of knowing our past and understanding its relationship to our future.

Click here: http://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/05/us/joseph-medicine-crow-tribal-war-chief-and-historian-dies-at-102.html?smprod=nytcore-iphone&smid=nytcore-iphone-share&_r=0