Joe medicine crow biography of alberta williams

Joe Medicine Crow

Native American writer and war chief (–)

In this article, the surname is Medicine Crow.

Joe Medicine Crow

Medicine Crow (right) with President Barack Obama in

Born

Joseph Medicine Crow


()October 27,

Near Lodge Grass, Montana, U.S.

DiedApril 3, () (aged&#;)

Billings, Montana, U.S.

NationalityCrow, American
Alma&#;materLinfield College
University of Southern California
Occupation(s)Historian, war chief, anthropologist, author
RelativesPauline Small(cousin)
White Man Runs Him(step-grandfather)
AwardsPresidential Medal of Freedom
Allegiance&#;United States of America
Service / branch&#;United States Army
Years&#;of service–
RankTechnician 5th grade
Unitrd Infantry Division
Battles / warsWorld War II
AwardsBronze Star
Légion d'honneur

Joseph Medicine Crow (October 27, – April 3, ) was a Native American writer, historian and war chief of the Crow Tribe.

His writings on Native American history and reservation culture are considered seminal works, but he is best known for his writings and lectures concerning the Battle of the Little Bighorn of

Medicine Crow was a World War II veteran, serving as a scout in the rd Infantry Division of the U.S. Army. He received the Bronze Star Medal and the Légion d'honneur for his service during World War II.

In , he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by Barack Obama.

Medicine Crow was a founding member of the Traditional Circle of Indian Elders and Youth.[1] He was the last war chief of the Crow Tribe and the last Plains Indian war chief.

Early life

Joseph Medicine Crow (his Crow name meant High Bird) was born in on the Crow Indian Reservation near Lodge Grass, Montana, to Amy Yellowtail and Leo Medicine Crow.[2] As the Crow kinship system was matrilineal, he was considered born for his mother's people, and gained his social status from that line.

Property and hereditary positions were passed through the maternal line.

Joe medicine crow biography of alberta High Bird - Dr. At age eleven he was present for and heard interviews conducted with his step-grandfather, who was an eye witness at the Battle of the Little Big Horn. Medicine Crow personally knew four of the scouts that had been with Custer near the Little Big Horn River that day in He began his doctorate studies and by had completed the coursework. He taught at Chemawa Indian School in

Chief Medicine Crow, Leo's father, was a highly distinguished and honored chief in his own right, who at the age of 22 became a war chief. He set a standard for aspiring warriors and was his son's inspiration.[citation needed]

His maternal step-grandfather, White Man Runs Him, was a scout for U.S.

General George Armstrong Custer and an eyewitness to the Battle of the Little Bighorn in [3] Joe Medicine Crow's cousin was Pauline Small, the first woman elected to office in the Crow Tribe of Indians.

Education

When he was young, Medicine Crow heard direct oral testimony about the Battle of the Little Bighorn in from his step-grandfather, White Man Runs Him, who had been a scout for General George Armstrong Custer.[4]

Beginning in , when he was in eighth grade, Medicine Crow attended Bacone College in Muskogee, Oklahoma, which also had preparatory classes for students of high school age.

He studied until he completed an Associate of Arts degree in He went on to study sociology and psychology for his bachelor's degree from Linfield College in [5] He earned a master's degree in anthropology from the University of Southern California in Los Angeles in ; he was the first member of the Crow tribe to obtain a master's degree.[4] His thesis, The Effects of European Culture Contact upon the Economic, Social, and Religious Life of the Crow Indians, has become a well-respected work about Crow culture.[6] He began work toward a doctorate, and by had completed the required coursework.

He did not complete his Ph.D., due to the United States' entry into World War II.[4]

Medicine Crow taught at Chemawa Indian School for a year in , then took a defense industry job in the shipyards of Bremerton, Washington in [5]

World War II

After spending the latter half of working in the naval ship yards in Bremerton, Washington, Medicine Crow joined the U.S.

Army in [5] He became a scout in the rd Infantry Division, and fought in World War II. Whenever he went into battle, he wore his war paint (two red stripes on his arms) beneath his uniform and a sacred yellow painted eagle feather, provided by a "sundance" medicine man, beneath his helmet.[3]

Medicine Crow completed all four tasks required to become a war chief: touching an enemy without killing him (counting coup), taking an enemy's weapon, leading a successful war party, and stealing an enemy's horse.[6] He touched a living enemy soldier and disarmed him after turning a corner and finding himself face to face with a young German soldier.

He also led a successful war party and stole fifty horses owned by the Waffen SS from a German camp, singing a traditional Crow honor song as he rode off.[7][8]

Medicine Crow is the last member of the Crow tribe to become a war chief. He was interviewed and appeared in the Ken Burns PBS series The War, describing his World War II service.[3] Filmmaker Ken Burns said, "The story of Joseph Medicine Crow is something I've wanted to tell for 20 years."[9]

Tribal spokesman

After serving in the Army, Medicine Crow returned to the Crow Agency.

In , he was appointed tribal historian and anthropologist.[10] He worked for the BIA beginning in [11] In , the "Custer Battlefield" (Little Bighorn Battlefield) Museum was established and dedicated to its founding members, Medicine Crow among them. He served as a board member or officer on the Crow Central Education Commission almost continuously since its inception in [5] In , he addressed the United Nations.[7]

Medicine Crow was a frequent guest speaker at Little Big Horn College and the Little Big Horn Battlefield Museum.

He also was featured in several documentaries about the battle, because of his family's associated oral history. He wrote a script "that has been used at the reenactment of the Battle of Little Big Horn held every summer in Hardin since "[12]

Medicine Crow was a founding member of Little Bighorn College and of the Buffalo Bill Historical Center in Cody, Wyoming beginning in [11][13]

As historian, Medicine Crow was the "keeper of memories" of his tribe.

He preserved the stories and photographs of his people in an archive in his house and garage.[8] His books include Crow Migration Story, Medicine Crow, the Handbook of the Crow Indians Law and Treaties, Crow Indian Buffalo Jump Techniques, and From the Heart of Crow Country. He also wrote a book for children entitled Brave Wolf and the Thunderbird.

Death

Medicine Crow continued to write and lecture at universities and public institutions until his death, at the age of , on April 3, He was in hospice care in Billings, Montana.[14][15] He is survived by his only son Ron Medicine Crow, daughters Vernelle Medicine Crow and Diane Reynolds, and stepdaughter Garnet Watan.

Honors

  • Medicine Crow received honorary doctorates from Rocky Mountain College in ,[17] his alma mater the University of Southern California in ,[4] and Bacone College in He was an ambassador and commencement speaker at the latter, a college established for Native Americans, for more than 50 years.[18]
  • His memoir, Counting Coup: Becoming a Crow Chief on the Reservation and Beyond, was chosen in by the National Council for the Social Studies as a "Notable Tradebook for Young People."[19]
  • On June 25, , Medicine Crow received two military decorations: the Bronze Star for his service in the U.S.

    Army, and the FrenchLegion of Honor Chevalier medal, both for service during World War II.[20] His other military awards include the Combat Infantryman Badge, Army Good Conduct Medal, American Campaign Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, and World War II Victory Medal.

  • On July 17, , Senators Max Baucus, Jon Tester, and Mike Enzi introduced a bill to award him the Congressional Gold Medal; however, the bill did not garner the required sponsorship of two-thirds of the senate to move forward.[21]
  • Medicine Crow received the Presidential Medal of Freedom (the highest civilian honor awarded in the United States) from President Barack Obama on August 12, [14] During the White House ceremony, Obama referred to Medicine Crow as bacheitche, or a "good man," in the Crow language.[22]

Legacy

In , Billings Public Schools opened Medicine Crow Middle School, named in honor of Joe Medicine Crow.[23]

In , the U.S.

Congress passed a law to rename a Veteran Administration Clinic in Billings to honor Joe Medicine Crow.[24][25]

In , the University of Southern California named the International Center for Public Affairs after Medicine Crow.[26] At the same time, USC established a scholarship program for Native American students name in his honor.[26] The building had previously been named after former USC President Rufus Von KleinSmid, but his name was stripped in due to controversy over his racist and eugenic views.[27]

Decorations

Bibliography

References

  1. ^"PIM 'founder,' war hero Medicine Crow turns ".

    Cody Enterprise. Sage Publishing. October 30, Retrieved November 3,

  2. ^McPhate, Mike (April 4, ). "Joseph Medicine Crow, Tribal War Chief and Historian, Dies at ". The New York Times. Retrieved April 4,
  3. ^ abc"Joe Medicine Crow".

    PBS. Archived from the original on April 7, Retrieved April 4,

  4. ^ abcd"Dr. Joseph Medicine Crow". Custer Museum. Archived from the original on July 30, Retrieved April 4,
  5. ^ abcd"Joseph Medicine Crow Collection Inventory".

    Little Big Horn College Library. Retrieved April 4,

  6. ^ ab"Joe Medicine Crow: Life and Work". .
  7. ^ ab"President Obama Names Medal of Freedom Recipients".

    Joe medicine crow biography of alberta king

    Joseph Medicine Crow, a Crow tribal historian and elder, has crossed over at the age of The Crow, who currently have a small reservation in Montana, were at one time at least three separate, distinct, and autonomous groups: the River Crow who ranged north of the Yellowstone River, the Mountain Crow who live south of the Yellowstone and farther west, and the Kicked-in-the-Bellies also known as Home-Away-from-the-Center who lived in the same area as the Mountain Crow. The Crow were once a part of the Hidatsa living near the Missouri River. Archaeologists suggest that the Crow moved out onto the Great Plains in two migrations. The Mountain Crow moved out first, about

    . July 30, Retrieved March 29, &#; via National Archives.

  8. ^ ab"War songs of the Plains". The Economist. Vol.&#;, no.&#; April 16, p.&#;
  9. ^Miniter, Brendan (September 19, ).

    Joe medicine crow biography of alberta health: Joseph Medicine Crow (October 27, – April 3, ) was a Native American writer, historian and war chief of the Crow Tribe. His writings on Native American history and reservation culture are considered seminal works, but he is best known for his writings and lectures concerning the Battle of the Little Bighorn of

    "Ken Burns Returns to War". Wall Street Journal Opinion. Retrieved September 19,

  10. ^"Joseph Medicine Crow". National Park Service. Retrieved April 4,
  11. ^ abBauer, Patricia (). "Joseph Medicine Crow | Native American Historian". Encyclopædia Britannica Online.

    Retrieved January 23,

  12. ^"Joseph Medicine Crow".

  13. Joseph Medicine Crow (1913-2016) | WikiTree FREE Family Tree
  14. Joe Medicine Crow – Wikipedie
  15. Item 2 of 5
  16. Joe medicine crow biography of alberta3
  17. Item 5 of 5

    18. Montanakids. Retrieved March 28,

  18. ^Ladue, Robin A. "The Last War Chief". Tribal Business Journal. Retrieved January 23,
  19. ^ abBrown, Matthew (April 3, ). "Crow Tribe elder, historian Joe Medicine Crow dead at ".

  20. Joe medicine crow biography of alberta health
  21. Joe medicine crow biography of alberta death
  22. Joe medicine crow biography of alberta williams

    23. The Washington Post. Retrieved April 3,

  23. ^Ferguson, Mike; Niedermeier, Jordan (April 3, ). "Joe Medicine Crow dies in Billings on Sunday morning". Billings Gazette. Retrieved April 4,
  24. ^"The Presidential Medal of Freedom". . Retrieved April 4, &#; via National Archives.
  25. ^Brown, Matthew (April 4, ).

    "Crow Tribe elder, historian Joe Medicine Crow dead at ". Star Tribune.

    Joe medicine crow biography of alberta canada A Sioux man who had faught against the Crow many times was visiting Yellowtail Josephs' grandfather. This visiting Sioux man was given the honor of naming him. The first name he was given was Winter Man. He was called Winter for many years. Joseph Medicine Crow dedicates this book to his children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren, all of whom he names on a beginning page of the book.

    Retrieved April 4,

  26. ^Bacone College (June 28, ). "Dr. Joseph Medicine Crow". Archived from the original on December 13, &#; via YouTube.
  27. ^"The official journal of National Council for the Social Studies"(PDF). University of South Florida.

    Joe medicine crow biography of alberta brown Richard Justian , Staff Writer April 28, They were bordered on their west and north by the Blackfeet, on their south by the Cheyenne, and their east by the Sioux, all of whom were once a very territorial and warlike people. Wars between the tribes were common. And as they became more common, they evolved into something sophisticated and formal, something almost game-like, with their own rules and reward system. The mids to the late s was an era of warriors and war chiefs.

    Retrieved April 4, [permanent dead link&#;]

  28. ^Kortlander, Christopher (May 21, ). "Dr. Joseph Medicine Crow to receive the French Legion of Honor Award and the Bronze Star". Custer Battlefield Museum. Retrieved April 4,
  29. ^"Dr. Joseph Medicine Crow Congressional Gold Medal Act".

    Retrieved August 28,

  30. ^Associated Press, "Crow Tribe Elder Joe Medicine Crow Dead at Age "
  31. ^Hoffman, Matt (August 25, ). "Medicine Crow opens for its 1st day". Billings Gazette. Retrieved June 8,
  32. ^"th Congress Public Law ". US Congress.
  33. ^"VA Clinic renamed in honor of two World War II Veterans".

    U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. April 27,

  34. ^ abYamamoto, Kacie (April 12, ). "Joseph Medicine Crow Center dedicated". Daily Trojan.
  35. ^Gomez, Melissa (November 18, ). "A USC building stripped of eugenicist's name will instead honor a Native American alumnus".

    The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 16,

External links