150th Anniversary of Little Bighorn Highlights Ongoing Impact on Native Policy

At the Crow Reservation, tribal representatives convened for a Victory Ride honoring the 150th anniversary of the 1876 Little Bighorn battle, often called the Battle of the Greasy Grass. Speakers like Trina Lone Hill and Leon Eagle Tail recounted family stories and emphasized the event’s symbolic importance for cultural pride. Historians such as Ned Blackhawk explained that the U.S. government’s response to the defeat intensified policies like forced boarding schools, land allotment, and cultural assimilation.

The gathering highlighted ongoing socioeconomic struggles among Native communities, including high poverty and low life expectancy. Attendees called for a more accurate national narrative and mutual healing, noting that the legacy of the battle still shapes contemporary Native American experiences.