The last Plains War Chief has passed at the age of 102.
April 3, 2016 11:05 PM Subscribe
"Warfare was our highest art, but Plains Indian warfare was not about killing. It was about intelligence, leadership, and honor." - Dr. Joseph Medicine Crow (October 27, 1913 – April 3, 2016). Historian, Anthropologist, Author, Lecturer, Presidential Medal of Freedom, Tribal Leader, Veteran, Elder, War Chief.
Joseph Medicine Crow was born and raised on the Crow Reservation in Montana. From a young age he was engrossed with the oral history of the tribe and enjoyed talking to elders, family friends, and his grandfather, White Man Runs Him, who was a scout for General Custer. Because of this, he was later on considered the leading expert on the Battle of Little Bighorn. He was also raised by his grandfather to be a warrior in the Crow traditions.
He was the first member of the Crow tribe to graduate college and was in graduate school for Anthropology when the US entered WWII. After joining the Army, he became a scout in the 103rd Infantry Division. During the War, Medicine Crow would paint red stripes on his arms and wore a yellow-painted eagle feather under his helmet whenever going into battle. He also completed the requirements for becoming a Crow War Chief:
1. Touch an enemy warrior
2. Take an enemy's weapon
3. Steal an enemy's horse
4. To lead a victorious war party
Medicine Crow tells his stories in this interview on the Ken Burns' documentary The War. Obituaries cannot give his stories justice.
After the War, he was the awarded the Bronze Star and the French Legion of Honour. He went on to finish his Masters degree in Anthropology and became the Tribe Historian for many years. He worked with many different museums including the Smithsonian on documenting Native American history and customs. He also lectured at many universities and spoke before the United Nations.
In 2009 he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Obama. "His contributions to the preservation of the culture and history of the First Americans are matched only by his importance as a role model to young Native Americans across the country."
"(His) life reflects not only the warrior spirit of the Crow people, but America's highest ideals." - President Obama
Joseph Medicine Crow was born and raised on the Crow Reservation in Montana. From a young age he was engrossed with the oral history of the tribe and enjoyed talking to elders, family friends, and his grandfather, White Man Runs Him, who was a scout for General Custer. Because of this, he was later on considered the leading expert on the Battle of Little Bighorn. He was also raised by his grandfather to be a warrior in the Crow traditions.
He was the first member of the Crow tribe to graduate college and was in graduate school for Anthropology when the US entered WWII. After joining the Army, he became a scout in the 103rd Infantry Division. During the War, Medicine Crow would paint red stripes on his arms and wore a yellow-painted eagle feather under his helmet whenever going into battle. He also completed the requirements for becoming a Crow War Chief:
1. Touch an enemy warrior
2. Take an enemy's weapon
3. Steal an enemy's horse
4. To lead a victorious war party
Medicine Crow tells his stories in this interview on the Ken Burns' documentary The War. Obituaries cannot give his stories justice.
After the War, he was the awarded the Bronze Star and the French Legion of Honour. He went on to finish his Masters degree in Anthropology and became the Tribe Historian for many years. He worked with many different museums including the Smithsonian on documenting Native American history and customs. He also lectured at many universities and spoke before the United Nations.
In 2009 he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Obama. "His contributions to the preservation of the culture and history of the First Americans are matched only by his importance as a role model to young Native Americans across the country."
"(His) life reflects not only the warrior spirit of the Crow people, but America's highest ideals." - President Obama
What an amazing life. Thanks so much for posting this and the marvelous interview.
posted by angiep at 11:23 PM on April 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by angiep at 11:23 PM on April 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
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posted by town of cats at 11:24 PM on April 3, 2016
posted by town of cats at 11:24 PM on April 3, 2016
He lived a phenomenal life.
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Great post, Deflagro.
posted by mosk at 12:06 AM on April 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
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Great post, Deflagro.
posted by mosk at 12:06 AM on April 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
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posted by teponaztli at 12:38 AM on April 4, 2016
posted by teponaztli at 12:38 AM on April 4, 2016
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posted by purpleclover at 12:54 AM on April 4, 2016
posted by purpleclover at 12:54 AM on April 4, 2016
Amazing connection to history.
Also amazing, I met a guy here who is half Crow (and half Sioux), who was adopted and raised in the UK, went to a Sussex boarding school, and lives here in London with an investment banker wife.
He leaves this world behind every year to go to the Crow reservation mentioned here to hunt, and participate in the various Crow rituals. One of the more unusual cultural bridges I've come across and yet he seems fully comfortable in both worlds.
posted by C.A.S. at 12:58 AM on April 4, 2016 [10 favorites]
Also amazing, I met a guy here who is half Crow (and half Sioux), who was adopted and raised in the UK, went to a Sussex boarding school, and lives here in London with an investment banker wife.
He leaves this world behind every year to go to the Crow reservation mentioned here to hunt, and participate in the various Crow rituals. One of the more unusual cultural bridges I've come across and yet he seems fully comfortable in both worlds.
posted by C.A.S. at 12:58 AM on April 4, 2016 [10 favorites]
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posted by ridgerunner at 1:10 AM on April 4, 2016
posted by ridgerunner at 1:10 AM on April 4, 2016
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posted by steady-state strawberry at 4:22 AM on April 4, 2016
posted by steady-state strawberry at 4:22 AM on April 4, 2016
Here he when he was a boy with his family in the Indian census rolls.
You'll see his grandfather, Medicine Crow (born 1851), in the census. Here is a portrait of him.
posted by ReluctantViking at 5:13 AM on April 4, 2016 [8 favorites]
You'll see his grandfather, Medicine Crow (born 1851), in the census. Here is a portrait of him.
posted by ReluctantViking at 5:13 AM on April 4, 2016 [8 favorites]
!
posted by ChuraChura at 6:19 AM on April 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by ChuraChura at 6:19 AM on April 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
I'm going to show that interview in my cultural anthropology class. It's wonderful!
posted by ChuraChura at 6:31 AM on April 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by ChuraChura at 6:31 AM on April 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
He shows up (younger than the Burns' video) at 7:50 in A Good Day to Die.
posted by bukvich at 6:39 AM on April 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by bukvich at 6:39 AM on April 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
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posted by Bob Regular at 7:02 AM on April 4, 2016
posted by Bob Regular at 7:02 AM on April 4, 2016
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posted by Smart Dalek at 7:49 AM on April 4, 2016
posted by Smart Dalek at 7:49 AM on April 4, 2016
Sidenote: bukvich's link is also a Ken Burns video - it's from episode six of The West. It makes sense his crew would interview the same person for the WWII doc.
posted by Wretch729 at 8:22 AM on April 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by Wretch729 at 8:22 AM on April 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
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posted by JoeXIII007 at 9:15 AM on April 4, 2016
posted by JoeXIII007 at 9:15 AM on April 4, 2016
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posted by Joey Michaels at 9:35 AM on April 4, 2016
posted by Joey Michaels at 9:35 AM on April 4, 2016
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posted by Sheydem-tants at 9:40 AM on April 4, 2016
posted by Sheydem-tants at 9:40 AM on April 4, 2016
There's a guy who found himself living in unsettled times for his people and decided to just do everything.
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posted by benito.strauss at 9:41 AM on April 4, 2016
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posted by benito.strauss at 9:41 AM on April 4, 2016
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posted by CarrotAdventure at 10:35 AM on April 4, 2016
posted by CarrotAdventure at 10:35 AM on April 4, 2016
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posted by Rustic Etruscan at 11:50 AM on April 4, 2016
posted by Rustic Etruscan at 11:50 AM on April 4, 2016
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posted by GrapeApiary at 1:30 PM on April 4, 2016
posted by GrapeApiary at 1:30 PM on April 4, 2016
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posted by TungstenChef at 1:39 PM on April 4, 2016
posted by TungstenChef at 1:39 PM on April 4, 2016
"Joe was a Crow war chief, veteran, elder, historian, author, and educator. His legacy will forever serve as an inspiration for all Native Americans — and all Montanans," [Gov. Steve Bullock] said.
What is a 'war chief' if not a 'veteran'?
I hope all people, and all Montanans, see the racism in that statement.
posted by stanf at 3:14 PM on April 4, 2016
What is a 'war chief' if not a 'veteran'?
I hope all people, and all Montanans, see the racism in that statement.
posted by stanf at 3:14 PM on April 4, 2016
A Crow war chief would not have necessarily served in the US military, which is what unadorned 'veteran' normally means in the US.
posted by tavella at 3:30 PM on April 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by tavella at 3:30 PM on April 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
What is a 'war chief' if not a 'veteran'?
Quoting the OP's below the fold portion:
...the requirements for becoming a Crow War Chief:
1. Touch an enemy warrior
2. Take an enemy's weapon
3. Steal an enemy's horse
4. To lead a victorious war party
Or am I misunderstanding the question?
posted by RolandOfEld at 3:54 PM on April 4, 2016
Quoting the OP's below the fold portion:
...the requirements for becoming a Crow War Chief:
1. Touch an enemy warrior
2. Take an enemy's weapon
3. Steal an enemy's horse
4. To lead a victorious war party
Or am I misunderstanding the question?
posted by RolandOfEld at 3:54 PM on April 4, 2016
. Phenomenal
posted by Fibognocchi at 6:24 PM on April 4, 2016
posted by Fibognocchi at 6:24 PM on April 4, 2016
Or am I misunderstanding the question?
It was kind of a silly question because if you watch the interview they are in the middle of a battle with tanks and cannons and machine guns and he steals a herd of horses from the Germans which makes it one of the greatest war (chief) stories we may ever have heard.
This guy deserves a statue in D.C.
posted by bukvich at 9:12 PM on April 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
It was kind of a silly question because if you watch the interview they are in the middle of a battle with tanks and cannons and machine guns and he steals a herd of horses from the Germans which makes it one of the greatest war (chief) stories we may ever have heard.
This guy deserves a statue in D.C.
posted by bukvich at 9:12 PM on April 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
Reading my comment back, I could have expressed myself in a less snarky way. What I wanted to point out was that the Governor had used the word 'veteran' to mean 'fought for the US military' which is, as Tavella points out, the common usage in the USA. The implication is that any other military service, for example, service that might make you a 'war chief', is somehow second-rate and does not deserve the respect implied by the word 'veteran'.
I meant no criticism of Dr. Joseph Medicine Crow.
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posted by stanf at 11:42 PM on April 4, 2016
I meant no criticism of Dr. Joseph Medicine Crow.
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posted by stanf at 11:42 PM on April 4, 2016
What is a 'war chief' if not a 'veteran'?
I hope all people, and all Montanans, see the racism in that statement.
Wha?
War Chief is a Crow concept, and a Crow term defined by the Crow although I'm sure the term is translated. The elders declared him a War Chief upon his return, like his grandfather before him. As Joe Medicine Crow himself said in the interview, "I suppose you're looking at the last Plains Indian War Chief."
Nothing to do with being a veteran, and everything to do with his place in his own historical legacy. Let's not project what is not there.
posted by C.A.S. at 11:43 PM on April 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
I hope all people, and all Montanans, see the racism in that statement.
Wha?
War Chief is a Crow concept, and a Crow term defined by the Crow although I'm sure the term is translated. The elders declared him a War Chief upon his return, like his grandfather before him. As Joe Medicine Crow himself said in the interview, "I suppose you're looking at the last Plains Indian War Chief."
Nothing to do with being a veteran, and everything to do with his place in his own historical legacy. Let's not project what is not there.
posted by C.A.S. at 11:43 PM on April 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
Let's not project what is not there.
Okay, I might have misunderstood. Either way, my point was perhaps a pedantic point to have made in a thread that should be more about the guy's achievements.
posted by stanf at 11:48 PM on April 4, 2016
Okay, I might have misunderstood. Either way, my point was perhaps a pedantic point to have made in a thread that should be more about the guy's achievements.
posted by stanf at 11:48 PM on April 4, 2016
He as a friend of my father's. When he was at USC, he tried out as an extra for "They died With Their Boots On" and ended up working with the writers. And he wasn't "declared" a war chief--he had to be approved by the other members of the warrior fraternity/society of the tribe. IIRC, he was also a member of the Lumpwoods, another fraternity/society within the Crow. Not all military veterans were so honored.
posted by Ideefixe at 8:06 AM on April 5, 2016 [5 favorites]
posted by Ideefixe at 8:06 AM on April 5, 2016 [5 favorites]
Background on his family:
http://www.american-tribes.com/Crow/bio/MedicineCrow.htm
posted by Ideefixe at 8:13 AM on April 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
http://www.american-tribes.com/Crow/bio/MedicineCrow.htm
posted by Ideefixe at 8:13 AM on April 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
Sorry for serial, but here's more about his WWII actions
http://billingsgazette.com/news/state-and-regional/montana/article_12ef6ce3-5fdc-5aff-9b87-d42156661417.html
posted by Ideefixe at 8:53 AM on April 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
http://billingsgazette.com/news/state-and-regional/montana/article_12ef6ce3-5fdc-5aff-9b87-d42156661417.html
posted by Ideefixe at 8:53 AM on April 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
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