Elder and Historian Joe Medicine Crow of the Crow Tribe has passed away at the age of 102.
Prominent Native American Historian and War Chief, Joseph Medicine Crow, Passes Away at 102
Joseph Medicine Crow, a renowned Native American historian, writer, and the last traditional war chief of the Crow Tribe, has passed away at the age of 102. The news was confirmed by Terry Bullis, the director of Bullis Mortuary funeral home, on Sunday.
Born on a log house in a rural area of the Crow Reservation near Lodge Grass, Montana, Medicine Crow was raised by his grandparents. His grandfather, Yellowtail, instilled in him the values of a Crow warrior from a young age, with a rigorous physical training regime that included running barefoot in the snow.
Medicine Crow's Crow name was "High Bird." As a child, he listened to stories about the Battle of Little Bighorn from people who were there, including his grandmother's brother, White Man Runs Him, a scout for Lt. Col. George Armstrong Custer.
In World War II, Medicine Crow served as a scout in the 103rd Infantry Division of the U.S. Army. During his military service in Nazi Germany, he fulfilled the four traditional Crow war deeds required to become a war chief: touching a living enemy, stealing an enemy's weapon, capturing a horse, and leading a successful war party.
As a result of his military service, Medicine Crow became the last traditional war chief of the Crow Tribe. He also made significant contributions to Native American history and cultural preservation through his seminal writings and lectures, particularly about Crow history and the Battle of the Little Bighorn.
Medicine Crow's honours and awards include the Bronze Star Medal, the French Légion d'honneur, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom, which he received from President Barack Obama in 2009. He also served as a founding member of the Traditional Circle of Indian Elders and Youth, promoting Native American heritage and leadership.
The Dr. Joseph Medicine Crow Center for International and Public Affairs at the University of Southern California preserves his writings and research on Native American issues. Medicine Crow served for decades as a Crow historian, bridging traditional Native American leadership and modern history to become a pivotal figure in both worlds.
Funeral arrangements for Joseph Medicine Crow will be announced on Monday, according to Terry Bullis.
In honoring Joseph Medicine Crow's life, it is essential to acknowledge his significant contributions to education-and-self-development, particularly in Native American history and cultural preservation through his writings, lectures, and seminal works. His military service in World War II, where he fulfilled traditional Crow war deeds, also played a crucial role in his self-development, earning him the status of the last traditional war chief of the Crow Tribe.
