I’ve written several times about meeting people from or learning about indigenous cultures in other countries on my travels. Indigenous is defined as: “originating or occurring naturally in a particular place, native.” I thought it only fitting to write a bit about indigenous Americans, especially after spending some time in the western United States.
First, a bit of history: by the mid-1870’s the US government policy of relocating Native Americans to “reservations” had been mandated and Native American tribes had been ordered to relocate to these designated areas. Many of these people did not want to forego their way of life and refused to acquiesce. Accordingly, the US Army sent troops to force the remaining free Indians onto the reservations during the Great Sioux War – one of several “Indian Wars” that took place as “the west was won.” The stories of this time (and associated memorials) offer a prime example of how history is written by the victors.
On June 25, 1876, George Armstrong Custer, leading approximately 600 soldiers of the 7th Cavalry in the Montana Territory (now southeastern Montana) came upon a settlement of roughly 7,000 Lakota, Northern Cheyenne, and Arapaho along the Little Bighorn River. The cavalry attempted a surprise attack but were met with resistance from approximately 1,800 Native American warriors. The resulting battle, the Battle of Little Bighorn (or the Battle of the Greasy Grass to the Indians involved), was an overwhelming Indian victory – with the 7th Cavalry suffering 52% casualties (including Custer and his entire five companies) while the Indian combatants suffered fewer than 50 casualties.
After the battle, the dead soldiers were buried where they fell while the Indian dead were removed by their families for a traditional burial.
In 1879, the Secretary of War preserved the site as a US National Cemetery to protect the graves of the soldiers and a temporary monument was erected. In 1881, the 2nd Cavalry erected a permanent granite monument and reinterred the soldiers’ remains near this monument. However, they left stakes in the ground marking where each soldier had fallen. In 1890, marble memorials were placed on each of these spots.
These marble blocks dot the fields of the battleground indicating where each soldier fell in the battle.
In the 1940’s, the National Park Service took control of the site and named it “Custer Battlefield National Monument.” It wasn’t until much later that the indigenous perspective of this battle was considered.
In 1991, George H.W. Bush signed a law changing the name of the monument to “Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument” and calling for the creation of an “Indian Memorial” to be built near the army memorial on Last Stand Hill. This memorial includes the names of each of the Native Americans killed listed by tribe, quotes from many who were in the battle, and an artistic representation of warriors heading off to the battle.
On Memorial Day 1999, red granite markers honoring the Indians who died at Little Bighorn were added to the surrounding fields and hillsides alongside the white granite markers honoring the soldiers, giving a more complete picture of both sides of the battle, and, in a small way, both sides of this part of American history.
The Indian markers give the name (in both their native language and English) of the warrior, their tribe, and the text: “A Cheyenne warrior fell here on June 25, 1876 while defending the Cheyenne way of life.” I was moved and a little saddened by this beautiful choice of language.
It is too easy to visit other countries, learn about other cultures and then make judgments on their treatment, in both the past and present, of indigenous societies within their borders. But I think it’s best to remember that there are precious few examples of “modern” societies handling indigenous people well.
At the very least, we should always look at history from BOTH perspectives, that of the victors, and that of the vanquished.
There are lessons to be learned from both sides. While I don’t have any easy answers, I suggest that we strive to both remember and act on those lessons.
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