One hundred years ago, Red Fox James, a Blackfoot Indian, went from state to state on horseback, asking for a day to honor American Indians. He got the endorsements of 24 state governments and on Dec. 14, 1915, he presented them at the White House.

In the years that followed, several states declared and celebrated an American Indian Day, but it wasn’t until 1990 that November was officially designated as Native American Heritage Month across the country.

Locally, Northwest College is celebrating Native American heritage and culture with a variety of events this month.

On Monday night, a group raised a tepee in the yard of the NWC Intercultural House. Attendees learned about the ceremonies still held in tepees as well as their historic significance to Native Americans. 

The community will continue to celebrate Native American Heritage Month with the Buffalo Feast on Thursday, Nov. 12. Hosted by the Native Ways student organization at Northwest College, the 19th annual feast features the Crow Sound Dogs drum group and the Greasy Grass Dance Troop.

Of course, it couldn’t be called a feast without food, and attendees will enjoy buffalo roast and foods indigenous to the Americas. Advance reservations for next week’s Buffalo Feast are required by Monday.

Later this month, Northwest College will host a fry bread lunch on Nov. 19 and a screening of “The Business of Fancydancing” on Nov. 22.

The college also recently hosted Supaman, a champion dancer and award-winning hip-hop musician who is a member of the Apsáalooke Nation.

It’s wonderful to see these local events celebrating Native American heritage this fall, and we’re thankful that efforts to preserve and recognize the culture continue throughout the year.

The Buffalo Bill Center of the West’s Plains Indian Museum in Cody houses one of the largest collections of Plains Indian art and artifacts in the United States. The museum represents many Plains tribes, including the Crow, Shoshone, Blackfeet, Lakota, Arapaho and others. Through the museum’s excellent exhibits and extensive collections, you can learn more about the cultures, histories and values of Plains Indians.

As Dr. Joseph Medicine Crow has said, the Plains Indian Museum is “a living, breathing place where more than just Indian objects are on display.”

Medicine Crow, who turned 102 on Oct. 27, is a living legend himself.

We celebrate his remarkable life and rich legacy as we recognize the significant heritage of Native Americans.

Medicine Crow, a Montana native, is the last living Plains Indian war chief.

During World War II, Medicine Crow fought in Europe and accomplished all four tasks required to become a war chief, including stealing dozens of horses from a battalion of German officers.

Medicine Crow also was the first member of his tribe to attend college and earn a master’s degree. As an author, tribal historian and anthropologist, he wrote several books and received two honorary doctorate degrees.

Adding to his extraordinary life, Medicine Crow is the last living person with a direct oral history from a participant of the Battle of Little Bighorn in 1876. His grandfather was a scout for General George Armstrong Custer.

Medicine Crow received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor, in 2009.

“His contributions to the preservation of the culture and history of the First Americans are matched only by his importance as a role model to young Native Americans across the country,” President Barack Obama said at the time.

It’s amazing to consider how much Medicine Crow has seen and experienced over the last 102 years, and how much has changed in our country. He was a toddler in Montana when Red Fox James went from state to state on horseback, advocating for a day to honor American Indians.

While our country has come a long way since 1915, we realize there’s still more work to do to honor, preserve and celebrate Native American heritage.