Joe Medicine Crow

Joseph Medicine Crow (October 27, 1913 - ) is a Crow historian and author. His writings on Native American history and reservation culture are considered seminal works, but he is probably best known for his writings and lectures concerning the Battle of Little Big Horn. He is the recipient of the Bronze Star, the Chevalier Légion d'honneur, and the Congressional Gold Medal and an enrolled member of the Crow Nation, or Crow Tribe of Indians.

Early Life

Joe Medicine Crow was born near Lodge Grass, Montana on the Crow reservation in Montana. Joseph Medicine Crow is a cousin to Pauline Small, the first woman elected to the Crow Tribe of Indians. His step-grandfather, White Man Runs Him, was a scout for George Armstrong Custer and an eyewitness to the battle [ [http://www.pbs.org/thewar/detail_5177.htm| Ken Burn’s “The War”] ] . He grew up hearing stories of the momentous event. The first member of his tribe to attend college, his graduate studies were interrupted by World War II.

World War II and becoming the last war chief of the Crow Tribe

Joe Medicine Crow joined the army, becoming a scout in the 103rd Infantry Division. Whenever he went into battle, he wore his war paint beneath his uniform and a sacred eagle feather beneath his helmet. [ [http://www.pbs.org/thewar/detail_5177.htm| Ken Burn’s “The War”] ] Without realizing it, Medicine Crow completed all four task required to become a war chief. He touched a living enemy soldier (1) and disarmed an enemy (2) when he turned a corner and found himself face to face with a young German solider:He also led a successful war party (3) and stole an enemy horse (4), making a midnight raid to steal the horses from a battalion of German officers (as he rode off, he sang a traditional Crow honor song.) He is the last member of the Crow tribe to become a war chief. [ [http://www.pbs.org/thewar/detail_5177.htm| Ken Burn’s “The War”] ] Of his story, noted documentarian Ken Burns said, "The story of Joseph Medicine Crow is something I've wanted to tell for 20 years." [ [http://opinionjournal.com/la/?id=110010622| Brendan Miniter, “Ken Burns Returns to War” "Wall Street Journal Opinion"] , 19 Sep 2007; accessed 19 Sep 2007.] Mr. Crow was interviewed and appeared in the 2007 Ken Burns PBS series The War, describing his World War II service.

Tribal Spokesman

After serving in the army, he returned to the Crow Agency. In 1948, he was appointed tribal historian and anthropologist. Now well into his 90s, he remains active writing and lecturing. In 1999, he addressed the United Nations. He is a frequent guest speaker at Little Bighorn College and the Little Big Horn Battlefield Museum and has appeared in several documentaries about the battle. A noted author, his books have included "Crow Migration Story", "Medicine Crow", the "Handbook of the Crow Indians Law and Treaties", "Crow Indian Buffalo Jump Techniques", and "From the Heart of Crow Country". He also authored a children’s book entitled "Brave Wolf and the Thunderbird".

Education

He received a bachelor degree from Linfield College in 1938. He attended the University of Southern California, earning a master’s degree in anthropology in 1939. H e was the first member of the Crow tribe to obtain a master’s degree. [ [http://www.custermuseum.org/medicinecrowarticles.htm| Custer Museum Biography] ] His thesis, "The Effects of European Culture Contact upon the Economic, Social, and Religious Life of the Crow Indians", has become one of the most widely cited documents concerning Crow culture. He received an honorary doctorate from Rocky Mountain College in 1999. He received an honorary doctorate at USC in 2003.

Honors

On June 25, 2008, he received two military decorations, the Bronze Star and the Chevalier Légion d'honneur. [ [http://www.kulr8.com/news/local/21609529.html| Stephanie Domurat, "Crow Elder Receives High Honor"] "KULR8", 25 Jun 2008; Retrieved 2008-07-28] On July 17, 2008, Senators Max Baucus, Jon Tester, and Mike Enzi, introduced a bill to award him the Congressional Gold Medal. [ [http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=s110-3283| Dr. Joseph Medicine Crow Congressional Gold Medal Act] Retrieved 2008-07-28]

Quotes

cquote|No one wins [in war] . Both sides lose. The Indians, so called hostiles, won the battle of the day, but lost their way of life.

Bibliography

*"Native Spirit: The Sun Dance Way" [Introduction] (World Wisdom, 2007) ISBN 978-1933316277
*"Native Spirit and The Sun Dance Way DVD" (World Wisdom, 2007)
*"Counting Coup: Becoming a Crow Chief on the Reservation and Beyond"(National Geographic Children's Books, 2006) ISBN 978-0792253914
*"All Our Relatives: Traditional Native American Thoughts about Nature", [foreword] (World Wisdom, 2005) ISBN 978-0941532778
*"From the Heart of the Crow Country: The Crow Indians' Own Stories" (Bison Books, 2000) ISBN 978-0803282636
*"Brave Wolf and the Thunderbird" (Abbeville Press, 1998) ISBN 978-0789201607
*"The Last Warrior" (Sunset Productions, July 1995) ISBN 978-9995331047
*"Keep the Last Bullet For Yourself (The True Story of Custer's Last Stand)" [Introduction] (Reference Publications, 1980)
*"Memoirs of a White Crow Indian" [Introduction] (University of Nebraska Press, 1976) ISBN 978-0803258006
*"The Crow Indians: 100 years of acculturation" (Wyola Elementary School, 1976)

References

External links

* [http://www.worldwisdom.com/public/authors/details.aspx?ID=138 Joe Medicine Crow: Life and Work]
* [http://www.montanachamber.net/ws/aboutus3.php?page_id=7377 Tribal historian honored as 2005 'Montana Tourism Person of the Year']
* [http://nativespiritinfo.com/jmc.html Cast Member in Documentary about Crow and Shoshone Sun Dance and Tribal Culture'] DEFAULTSORT:Medicine Crow, Joe