Joe Medicine Crow, Last Surviving War Chief, Passes
©Bert Gildart: Joe Medicine Crow, the last surviving war chief of the plains Indians tribe died April 3, 2016. He was 102. He grew up and lived most of his life at Lodge Grass, Montana.
As a child he listened to stories about Little Big Horn, told by a relative who served as a scout for Custer. He earned the title of war chief after stealing enemy horses and other exploits as a U.S. soldier during WWII. In 2009, he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Joe Medicine Crow
I came to know Medicine Crow while working for Native Peoples Magazine on two different occasions. The first time he was participating in the renaming of a national park-managed-area. Initially, it had been named after the field general who lost the Battle of the Little Bighorn, essentially because of arrogance. That was about 20 years ago and the renaming ceremony changed the name from Custer Battlefield to Little Bighorn Battlefield. At the time Medicine Crow led several dances and later, he graciously agreed to an interview. Also attending the name change were Gerard Baker, who helped bring about the controversial name change, and Secretary of Interior Gail Norton.
Medicine Crow was a historian and author of the Crow Nation of Native Americans. His writings on Native American history and reservation culture are considered seminal works, but he is best known for his writings and lectures concerning the Battle of the Little Bighorn.
L to R: Joe Medicine Crow leads dance commemorating historic name change;
new Indian Memorial; Gail Norton and Little Bighorn Superintendent Gerard Baker.
Because of his work he received an honorary doctorate from Rocky Mountain College in 1999. He received an honorary doctorate at the University of Southern California in 2003 and an honorary doctorate at Bacone College in 2010, an educational institution where he had been an ambassador and commencement speaker for over 50 years. My last meeting with Medicine Crow was at an annual event that celebrated the life of Chief Plenty Coups. The celebration was held at Plenty Coups State Park in Montana.
Joe Medicine Crow was a man much in demand and I always appreciated the fact that he set aside time to visit with me. He was truly a great man and will certainly join the pantheon of Montana Native Americans who have made a difference not only to his native culture but to the standards of life in American.
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4th ed. Autographed by the Authors
Hiking Shenandoah National Park
Hiking Shenandoah National Park is the 4th edition of a favorite guide book, created by Bert & Janie, a professional husband-wife journalism team. Lots of updates including more waterfall trails, updated descriptions of confusing trail junctions, and new color photographs. New text describes more of the park’s compelling natural history. Often the descriptions are personal as the Gildarts have hiked virtually every single park trail, sometimes repeatedly.
Big Sky Country is beautiful
Montana Icons: 50 Classic Symbols of the Treasure State
Montana Icons is a book for lovers of the western vista. Features photographs of fifty famous landmarks from what many call the “Last Best Place.” The book will make you feel homesick for Montana even if you already live here. Bert Gildart’s varied careers in Montana (Bus driver on an Indian reservation, a teacher, backcountry ranger, as well as a newspaper reporter, and photographer) have given him a special view of Montana, which he shares in this book. Share the view; click here.
$16.95 + Autographed Copy
What makes Glacier, Glacier?
Glacier Icons: 50 Classic Views of the Crown of the Continent
Glacier Icons: What makes Glacier Park so special? In this book you can discover the story behind fifty of this park’s most amazing features. With this entertaining collection of photos, anecdotes and little known facts, Bert Gildart will be your backcountry guide. A former Glacier backcountry ranger turned writer/photographer, his hundreds of stories and images have appeared in literally dozens of periodicals including Time/Life, Smithsonian, and Field & Stream. Take a look at Glacier Icons
$16.95 + Autographed Copy
