Local runners (Busby School and Lame Deer Schools) enroute to Busby.
Northern Cheyenne remember Fort Robinson Breakout
By Clara Caufield LAME DEER, Mont. — From January 8 – 14th, hundreds of Northern Cheyenne observed the anniversary of the Fort Robinson Breakout. 135 years ago, over 65 Northern Cheyenne, members of the Dull Knife Band were massacred at Fort Robinson when they refused to return to Oklahoma. The Northern Cheyenne were embarked upon an epic journey to return to Montana, to the Tongue River Reservation, but the Dull Knife Band was captured while trying to reach sanctuary with the Red Cloud band. Imprisoned at Fort Robinson, deprived of food and water in the middle of winter, the US tried to force them to return to Oklahoma. “We would rather die.” they vowed. When the desperate Cheyenne broke out of the barracks, a general massacre ensued. More than 65 were murdered. That sacrifice and determination was a primary reason the US Government finally relented in allowing the Northern Cheyenne to gain a Reservation in Montana. This year, nearly 400 Northern Cheyenne young people participated in two Fort Robinson runs. More than a hundred ran in the annual Fort Robinson Run, relaying from Nebraska to Busby, Montana, an event that has been held since 1996, now coordinated by the Yellow Bird Foundation under the direction of Phillip Whiteman, Jr. and Lynette Two Bulls. And, for the first time, over 300 local youth ran a two-day Reservation Run in the “Honoring our Ancestors” event sponsored by President Llevando “Cowboy” Fisher, the Tribe and community. Fisher also sought to recognize the 1993 repatriation and reburial of Fort Robinson victims on the Reservation and the tribal elders who made that possible. “A lot of our people cannot afford to go the Nebraska to commemorate this very important event in our history,” Fisher said. “Our ancestors sacrificed so that we can have our Reservation today. If not for them, we would not be here, so I wanted to have a local commemoration event, specifically to recognize our elders, ancestors and to teach our young children about this very important event in our history.” In 1993, the remains of Fort Robinson victims were returned to the Northern Cheyenne Tribe by the Smithsonian under the Native American Graves Repatriation Act. President Fisher also held office at that time. During the 2014 “Honoring our Ancestors” event, he specifically acknowledged the tribal elders and ceremonial leaders who helped with the reburial. “Some are still with us, but many are gone. We need to remember them too,” he stressed. “They made sure the ceremony was conducted in a proper way so our ancestors could finally find peace and rest in the land they loved.” Local youth (from kindergarten to high school) from the Lame Deer Public and Northern Cheyenne Tribal Schools participated in the local Fort Robinson Run a two-day route from Ashland, Birney, Muddy Cluster ending at Busby with a ceremony at the Fort Robinson internment site. “Involving the whole school K through 12 in the Fort Robinson outbreak run was very exciting because our students, teachers and staff were in unity as a whole to support the President Fisher’s efforts to recognize the Northern Cheyenne delegation that brought back the remains of victims of the Fort Robinson Breakout in 1993. We also started an event that will be a tradition in our school for years to come” said Teresa McMakin, Principal, Northern Cheyenne Tribal Schools”. Before the local run started, the local Runners were blessed and smudged in the Cheyenne traditional way by ceremonial leader, Don Shoulderblade, former Sacred Hat Keeper. He urged the children to be respectful and to remember our ancestors. “They are the reason we have our home today.” The blessing and history lesson was held in the Tribal Chambers, attended by President Fisher, several Tribal Council members, community members and school staff. William Walksalong Tribal Administrator initiated the Fort Robinson Repatriation in 1993 when he was then Tribal Vice-President. Closely involved in planning the 2014 Commemoration he noted, “I was really glad to see all the children who were involved and how respectful they were. I think they realized the importance of what our ancestors did for – they gave us a place to live.” Both Runs were concluded with community feasts. On January 10th, more than 500 community members and 300 youth attended a lavish feast at the Busby School, the beef donated by President Fisher and side dishes by the community. Mabel and Roger Killsnight coordinated the event and prepared the meal. “That way, it was not a big expense to the Tribe. This is the way we did it in the old days,” Fisher remarked. The runners who traveled from Fort Robinson arrived on the Reservation on Monday, January 13th, greeted by large numbers of Cheyenne, many who parked along the route to honk horns and cheer for the runners. A feast for them was provided at the Boy’s and Girl’s Club in Lame Deer. (Clara Caufield can be contacted at acheyennevoice@gmail.com)
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