Residents of the Long Soldier District on the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation came together June 24-26, 2016, for the Battle of the Greasy Grass Oskate (Games). Here, riders are seen participating in a Sungkiyangkob Pi, or a horse race, in a photo shared by Jon Eagle Sr.., the historic preservation officer for the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe. Photo from Facebook
The Custer’s Last Stand holiday
By Dave Archambault Sr.
Native Sun News Columnist
www.nsweekly.com On June 25, 1976, Hobart Keith, a Judge for the Oglala Sioux Tribal Court, kicked the doors of the Pine Ridge jailhouse wide open and freed the Indian prisoners in honor of the famous whipping of the 7th Calvary some 100 years before in a Montana valley called the Little Big Horn. As Indian history advises us, Judge Keith declared June 25, 1876 a Holiday because, as American history informs us, Lt. Colonel George Armstrong Custer attacked a huge encampment of Sioux, Arapahoe and Cheyenne with the sole purpose of killing them. And of course to enhance his reputation as the greatest Indian killer commander of all time. His glory notions were literally “smothered to death” for all the reasons greed and blatant racism should be. Shortly after Judge Hobart Keith, Associate Judge Hildegarde Catches and Clerk of Court Irene Brewer formally signed and issued the court order dismissing the charges that created the commemorative release, Gerald Clifford and Gerald One Feather answered an urge to heighten the court action by trying to solidify it as an official Tribal Holiday by drafting up a resolution for official adoption by the Tribe. Since that time, Tribes from around the Great Plains loosely celebrated and honor the great deed of the warriors at the Greasy Grass, where fearless and fierce fighting defended the women and children and their right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. In every way, the date and feat signifies one of the finest hours in American Indian history. The annual remembrance by Tribes and individuals is not a celebration of killing 210 men under the command of one of the old west’s true anti-hero’s. Custer and his infantry’s one hour journey into infamy is tragic as any senseless loss of life should be. So it is very important to know that from the Indian perspective it is not about the victory of killing, rather it is about honoring the defense of Nationhood.
Read the rest of the story on the all new Native Sun News website: The Custer’s Last Stand holiday (Contact Dave Archambault Sr. at joebuckinghorse@gmail.com) Copyright permission Native Sun News
Join the Conversation
