On my road trip across the western part of the US, we stopped at Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument. This monument remembers the Indigenous peoples and members of the 7th Cavalry who fought at the Battle of the Little Bighorn in 1876. The 7th Cavalry, led by Lieutenant Colonel George Armstrong Custer, had come to subdue and destroy the Indigenous peoples in the area, particularly those who had not agreed to live on reservations. The Indigenous people involved were fighting to protect their land from colonialism and settlement. The site is also famous because it is where Lt. Col. Custer was killed.
The national monument includes the battlefield, the cemetery, a visitor's center with a museum, and surrounding land. I walked through the museum to answer questions about the battle and its historical context. Afterward, I received my badge from the ranger and went out to take photos.
The land is beautiful. I could definitely see why it is sacred to the Indigenous peoples of the area. I don't like to take photos in sacred places, but I made an exception for Little Bighorn Battlefield, because I feel it is a place that we should all respect and understand. The Native peoples who fought to protect their land won this battle against the 7th Cavalry. I overheard some other visitors saying that Native peoples lost the long war though- but they did not! Indigenous peoples are still alive and thriving in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and throughout the hemisphere. Many people think of Indigenous peoples in this country as belonging to the past, but they are part of the present and will be part of the future too!
The national monument has a little loop road that goes through the main part of the park. We decided to stop at the Indian Memorial to pay respect to the Indigenous peoples and their allies, the horses, who were killed in the battle. I am so proud that my family are Native American and that they continue to survive with resiliency in the face of settler colonialism. I know the Native warriors who fought at Little Bighorn are proudly watching over their descendants too.
A quote on the wall of the Indian Memorial says "In order to heal our grandmother earth, we must unify through peace." Do you agree? What does it mean to have peace? Does your family have Native American heritage?
I'm really glad we got to visit the Little Bighorn Battlefield. It's a complicated place, but an important part of our history.
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