Full Breakdown
150th Anniversary of the Battle of Little Bighorn: A Living Commemoration
6/26/2026, 5:32:15 AM
Core Event – Celebration at Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument
On Thursday, June 25 2026, hundreds of Native American participants gathered at the Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument in Montana to mark the 150th anniversary of the 1876 Battle of Greasy Grass. The program featured horse rides, battle reenactments, traditional songs, dances, and an oral-history camp. Riders from the Cheyenne River Reservation (South Dakota) and other tribes traveled hundreds of miles to the Crow Agency area, while additional events took place at the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation (North Dakota).
Background & Context – The 1876 Battle and Its Aftermath
In June 1876, allied Lakota, Northern Cheyenne, and Arapaho forces defeated Lt. Col. George Armstrong Custer’s Seventh Cavalry, killing Custer and more than 200 soldiers. The victory, known to Native peoples as the Battle of Greasy Grass, temporarily halted U.S. expansion into the Black Hills, a sacred Lakota region. Federal retaliation accelerated, leading to years of hardship, the 1877 death of Crazy Horse, the 1881 surrender of many bands, and the 1890 killing of Sitting Bull during an agency police arrest.
Key Figures & Tribal Groups
- William Good Bird – Traditional singer, Spirit Lake Dakota Nation (North Dakota)
- Jon Eagle Sr. – Former Standing Rock historic preservation officer, Hunkpapa band of the Oceti Sakowin
- Jim Real Bird – Crow tribal member and reenactment coordinator
- Theresa Long Turkey – Member of the Lower Brule Sioux Tribe (South Dakota)
- Participating tribes included the Cheyenne River Reservation, Crow Agency, Standing Rock Sioux, Lower Brule Sioux, Spirit Lake Dakota, and representatives from Washington State.
Data & Statistics
- 150th anniversary of the 1876 battle
- Hundreds of participants across multiple tribes
- Hundreds of miles traveled by horse riders from South Dakota to Montana
- Dozens of tepees erected along the Little Bighorn River
On-the-Ground Reports – Reenactments, Songs, and Oral History
The ceremony opened with Good Bird’s drumming and a sunrise song, followed by a charge of horse riders up a hill, whooping and yelling. Elders wore traditional headdresses, flags of various nations fluttered, and the camp featured oskáte—a celebration of oral histories, victory songs, and tribal dancing. The choreography of the reenactments follows Northern Cheyenne oral tradition, emphasizing horsemanship and language preservation.
Official Statements & Responses
Tribal leaders described the gathering as a renewal of cultural identity and a means to pass language and history to younger generations. They emphasized that the event counters historic attempts to erase Native presence, noting that “language is essential to being Native” and that the commemoration “keeps history alive for future generations.”
Criticism & Opposition
Some participants framed the anniversary as a reminder of broader injustice. Crow reenactment coordinator Jim Real Bird called the date “a mark of 250 years of injustice to the Native people,” highlighting the continued impact of forced relocations, boarding schools, and cultural suppression.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on the details of Sitting Bull’s surrender: Jon Eagle Sr. asserts that traditional accounts contradict the textbook narrative of a voluntary surrender, while other historical records describe a formal surrender in 1881. Precise attendance figures are not provided, leaving the exact scale of participation unclear.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Today I am celebrating the victory of our people, celebrating my life as a human being and my spot on this earth,” — William Good Bird
- “It’s just a mark to me of 250 years of injustice to the Native people,” — Jim Real Bird, Crow tribal member and reenactment coordinator
- “All the other things that are Native American don't mean nothing if you don't know your language,” — Jim Real Bird
- “This is our fuel for the year. We come here and this is a renewal for us, too, you know, personally,” — Theresa Long Turkey, Lower Brule Sioux Tribe
- “Our people say that he looked at his son Crow Foot and said, ‘My boy, if you live, you can never be a man in this world because you can never own a gun or a pony,’” — Jon Eagle Sr., former Standing Rock historic preservation officer
Why It Matters – Cultural Resilience and Historical Narrative
The commemoration reinforces tribal sovereignty, language revitalization, and intergenerational transmission of history, directly confronting narratives that have marginalized Native perspectives of the battle.
What’s Next – Future Anniversaries and Ongoing Programs
Organizers plan to continue the annual reenactments, expand oral-history workshops, and involve additional tribes for the 151st anniversary in 2027, ensuring the battle’s legacy remains a living part of Native cultural identity.
