Crow
Current population 12,000
Location Montana
Language(s) Crow (Sioux language)
The Crows, also known as Crows, Absaroka or Absáalooke, are a Native American tribe that historically lived in the Yellowstone River Valley, and were relocated by the United States government to a reservation south of Billings, Montana. . The political center of the Crows is located at Crow Agency (Montana). The tribe hosts a large gathering every year combining pow-wows, rodeos and parades; it is the Crow Fair which is held every year at the Crow Agency (in 2006 from August 17 to 21).
The Crow Indian Reservation in southern and central Montana is a large reservation of over 7,300 km². It is primarily located in Big Horn and Yellowstone Counties with land grants in Rosebud, Carbon and Treasure Counties as well. Its eastern border is on the 107th meridian of Greenwich, except along the border with the northern reserve of the Cheyenne Indians:indeed the delimitation of the border between the two Indian reserves is old and imprecise. The southern boundary runs from the 107th meridian west to the eastern bank of the Big Horn River.
The Crow language is one of the Sioux languages of the Missouri Valley.
The Crows lived in tepees made of buffalo skins and wooden stakes. Inside, they had mattresses along the edges of their shelters, and a fire in the center, the smoke from which escaped through a hole in the top of the tipi.
Crow clothing depended on gender. The women dressed simply, as they spent most of the time near the tipi. They wore dresses made of sheepskin or gazelle, adorned with elk teeth. They put on leggings and moccasins. Crow women wore short hair, unlike men. The men wore the shirt, leggings held by a belt, a robe, and moccasins. Their hair was long, and sometimes highlighted with accessories.
Scouts
On June 25, 1876, George Armstrong Custer, commander of the 7th United States Cavalry Regiment led his troops against the Sioux and Cheyenne warriors. The Crow Nation were recruited to serve in the army as Indian scouts. White Man Runs Him, Curley, Hairy Moccasin, and Goes Ahead were with Lieutenant Colonel Custer and the 7th Cavalry at the Battle of Little Big Horn. The only mission of the scouts was to find the Indian encampments. The site of this battle, located near Crow Agency, is commemorated by the Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument