The Crow Indian Reservation

Montana

by: Bobby McDonald

The Crow Indian Reservation, near Hardin, Montana, is home to a large group of Indians, the very tribes that fought in the Battle of Little Big Horn, and were relegated to reservations in a tough land, in the Southern part of the state of Montana.

Today, the Indians have "carved" a living in agriculture, tourism, and related industries, as they have used the tribal lands to further their advancement. The reservation includes some 2.3 million acres in Southern Montana, headquartered in the town of Crow Agency, Montana. The Indians were called the Apsaalooke or "People of the Crows," by the French Canadian Fur Traders and Trappers, who came to the region. The tribe had inhabited the Yellowstone River Valley, before being sent to the reservation.

Almost 6900 residents live on the reservation, today, and are occupied in a variety of jobs and enterprises. The reservation also has a university and each year becomes "The Teepee Capital of the World" when the Crow Indian Fair is conducted in the summer.

Sweeping vistas, mountains, and ranching prairies make up today's Crow Indian Reservation and horses are found everywhere. The Crow Indians owned more horses than any of the Plains tribes and were noted for their excellent  horsemanship. Today, they continue to embrace the horse in their ranching and recreational activities.

Enjoy these photos of the Crow Indian Reservation, in Southern Montana:

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