Joe Medicine Crow, a historian and author from the Crow Tribe of Montana, said he was "humbled and honored" to be named as one of the recipient of the 2009 Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Medicine Crow, 96, met then-Sen. Barack Obama during a campaign stop on the reservation last May. "You know that President Obama is my clan nephew now," Medicine Crow said in a statement, The BIllings Gazette reported. "I met him here on the Crow Reservation when he was adopted by the parents of our current chairman, Mary and Hartford "Sonny" Black Eagle."

Medicine Crow will now head to Washington, D.C., for an August 12 ceremony at the White House. "I sang Senator Obama a praise song, and now I know the song worked. Now that Barack Obama is the president of the United States, he is entitled to the victory song that was given to me by my grandfather, White Man Runs Him, who was General Custer's scout," Medicine Crow stated.

Medicine Crow was the first Crow to receive a master's degree. He was working on his doctoral when he was called to serve in World War II.

Get the Story:
Crow tribal historian to receive Medal of Freedom (The Billings Gazette 7/31)
Obama to honor Crow historian, vet with Medal of Freedom (AP 7/31)

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Joe Medicine Crow to receive Medal of Freedom (7/30)