Custer's Last Stand Was Worse Than We Were Told (Video)

Above, "Last Stand Hill" at Little Bighorn Battlefield. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Interesting video. You have to watch it on YouTube. Just click on it.

Custer's Last Stand Was Worse Than We Were Told

 

Gallup Inter-Tribal Indian Ceremonial

Above, a tee pee set up near the exhibit hall's entrance. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Yesterday morning, I attended the 2025 Gallup Inter-Tribal Indian Ceremonial at Red Rock Park.

First, I went to the rodeo arena to watch women's barrel racing and, later, the calf take-down event. It was sunny and hot, so I limited myself to about an hour and a half out in the sun. 

Above, yours truly at the rodeo arena. 

Afterwards, I went inside the events center to view the art show. I was surprised that it was limited to just one large room (ballroom-sized) with no exhibits in smaller rooms. There was also very few rug displays that were a highlight in past years. It was mainly paintings, pottery, kachina dolls and jewelry.

The artwork ranged from kids art to adults. One painting was with a Godzilla theme called "Cheiizilla". In Navajo language, here is what cheii means:

In the Navajo (Diné) language, "Cheii" (pronounced "ch-ee-ee") translates to "grandfather" or "maternal grandfather". It specifically refers to the mother's father, according to Navajo tradition. The term is also used to refer to the horned toad, which is considered a spiritual grandfather figure in Navajo culture. 

A photo of the painting is below. 

Outside, there were some vendors, mainly food and drinks. There were very few vendors selling Native American goods. That was a disappointment. 

Anyway, it was good to get out and wander the Ceremonial. It goes on to August 10.

Some photos:

 

Gallup Inter-Tribal Indian Ceremonial 1940s - 1950s Video

A little while ago, I found a silent video of the Gallup Inter-Tribal Indian Ceremonial from the 1940s to 1950s. 

At the end, the video gives a glimpse of the El Rancho Hotel.

Gallup Inter-Tribal Indian Ceremonial Starts Today

Above, at the 2018 Ceremonial. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

One of the annual events taking place in the Gallup, New Mexico area is the Gallup Inter-Tribal Indian Ceremonial. I have attended every one (except during the pandemic) since I moved to New Mexico seven years ago. This year's Ceremonial starts today.

Above, pottery, rugs and artwork on display. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

What is the Gallup Inter-Tribal Indian Ceremonial?

According to New Mexico Magazine:

Gallup gleams during its annual Inter-Tribal Indian Ceremonial, which has been happening for more than 100 years with Indigenous attendees from around the country. This year, it takes place August 1–10, featuring processions, powwows, parades, rodeo events, the Ceremonial Queen Pageant, arts and crafts, performances, and traditional dances that showcase the breadth and beauty of Indigenous culture in America. Most of the offerings take place at the under the rusty sandstone cliffs of Red Rock Park just outside of town, but some are in Gallup too. Find a complete schedule on the event’s website.

Above, from the 2019 Ceremonial rodeo. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Generally, I attend the Ceremonial's rodeo and take in the art shows and check out what the vendors of various tribes have to offer. It is very enjoyable. 

Above, artist Richard Yazzie (a Jamestown resident) poses with his artwork. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

For more information, go here. 

2025 Gallup Inter-Tribal Indian Ceremonial Schedule

Custer's Last Stand: Most Accurate Hollywood Movie?

Above, Last Stand Hill today. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

My recent visit to the Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument in Montana was an interesting one. People can envision how the battle took place as the area looks much like it did back in 1876, with the exception of the monuments placed there over the years.

Above, George Armstrong Custer, May 1865. Library of Congress photo.

One has to ask, "What Hollywood movie is the most accurate portrayal of Custer's last stand?"

From what I have gleaned via Google, Son of Morning Star (1991), a two-part miniseries is the most accurate. 

According to the U.K.'s Television Heaven:

Other than Waterloo, no battle has generated more discussion than the defeat of Lieutenant Colonel George Armstrong Custer at the Little Big Horn in 1876. News of the massacre of five troops of his 7th US Cavalry at the hands of "uncivilised" tribes came as a profound shock to Americans celebrating the Centenary of their Declaration of Independence with a huge exhibition dedicated to the industrial and technological progress of their country.

Custer himself has been portrayed many times and in many different ways on the big screen: Errol Flynn played him as a self sacrificing hero in 'They Died With Their Boots On,' Ronald Reagan as a dim sidekick in 'Santa Fe Trail,' Robert Shaw as a tightly controlled psychopath in 'Custer of the West,' and Richard Mulligan as comedy relief in 'Little Big Man.' Yet most historians agree that the most authentic portrait was on television - from Gary Cole in Son of the Morning Star, a two part "miniseries." They also tend to commend the production as a whole for its accuracy.

To read more, go here.

Son of Morning Star full movie:

Custer National Cemetery and Battlefields

Above, Custer National Cemetery. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

When planning the trip to Wyoming, Montana and South Dakota, I had to time it so that we could attend the Winchester Arms Collectors Association's gun show in Cody, Wyoming and to visit the Little Bighorn Battlefield.

Above, the temporary visitor center. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

As construction is now underway for a new visitor center, the Little Bighorn Battlefield is only open to visitors from Fridays to Sundays this summer. A temporary visitor center has been placed near the Custer National Cemetery. I wasn't aware that there is a national cemetery at the Battlefield until we arrived. 

We walked through the National Cemetery and, after that, took a driving tour through the Custer and Reno-Benteen Battlefields with stops at both areas. 

Some photos:

Above, Custer National Cemetery. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, a monument honoring the 5th Regiment of Infantry. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, a bunny relaxing in the shade of my RV at the Little
 Bighorn Battlefield parking lot. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, Last Stand Hill. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, Reno-Benteen Battlefield. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Stay In A Navajo 'Hogan' Home In Monument Valley

Above, a traditional Navajo hogan in Monument Valley. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Visitors to Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park that straddles Utah and Arizona is a part of the Navajo Nation.

A Navajo woman in Monument Valley is opening her hogan to visitors for overnight stays.

AOL reported:

The Diné, or Navajo, are indigenous to the Southwestern United States, where they have lived for over a thousand years. Travelers seeking to explore Navajo traditions and culture can now stay in a hogan, a traditional dwelling, within the Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park, or Tse’Bii’Ndzisgaii. A Navajo hogan is usually dome-shaped or multi-sided and built entirely out of natural elements like logs, bark, and mud.

The MonetValley Eco Hogan sits within the tribal park north of Kayenta, Arizona, and is owned by Verna Yazzie, a Navajo woman who was born and raised in Monument Valley. Her hogan, completed in 2020, is built out of juniper wood, bark, and sand. It is an off-grid structure with no electricity or running water, offering guests an extra dose of dark night skies (the area is renowned for its stargazing) and the chance to connect with the natural world.

By opening her hogan to visitors, Yazzie hopes to introduce people to the Navajo lifestyle, which traditionally involves herding sheep, weaving rugs, growing crops, and silversmithing. The name of her hogan, MonetValley, is an ode to her grandmother, who also lived in Monument Valley.

 To read more, go here.

Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument Closed Mondays Through Thursdays This Summer

Above, Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument. NPS photo.

One of the places I am planning to visit this summer during a trip into Wyoming is Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument. 

This is the site of the massacre of Col. George Armstrong Custer and his troops by several Indian tribes. 

However, careful planning is needed as the site will be only open this summer from Fridays to Sundays.

According to NBC Montana:

MISSOULA, Mont. — Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument will be closed Mondays through Thursdays this summer.

The closure is due to construction of the Visitor Center and a roadway improvement project.

To read more, go here. 

Little Bighorn Battlefield Nat. Monument To Get New Visitor Center

Above, The Custer fight (1903) by Charles Marion Russell.

One of my "bucket list" places to visit is the Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument in Montana. I tried going there in 1990, but the tent trailer at the time got damaged during a windstorm in Sheridan, Wyoming and we had to change our route. Maybe I'll go there this coming year. I have been thinking about heading there, Cody and venturing east to the Black Hills of South Dakota.

The Little Bighorn Battlefield is where Col. George Armstrong Custer engaged in a battle that killed 268 7th cavalry soldiers, civilians, and Indian scouts along with an estimated 60-100 Lakota and Cheyenne.

The National Monument is breaking ground for a new visitor center.

From the National Park Service:

CROW AGENCY, Mont. – Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument recently awarded a construction contract to replace the park’s aging visitor center built in 1951. The National Park Service is coordinating with the park's associated Tribes and stakeholders to develop interpretive exhibits that better tell the complex stories surrounding the landscape, site, and people. Work is scheduled to begin on November 25, 2024.

The nearly $14 million project is funded by the Centennial Challenge program and donations through the National Park Foundation (NPF), including a lead grant from The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust.

The new 9,000 square foot building will be constructed on the footprint of the old visitor center. Nomlaki Technologies LLC, based in West Sacramento, California, is a 100% tribally owned company of members of the Paskenta Band of Nomlaki Indians. The new building will provide prominent views of the battlefield and will feature a roof deck, an improved parking area, accessible walkways, and enhanced visitor amenities to accommodate increased visitor use.

To read more, go here. 

Drug Cartels Ravaging Arizona, Montana Indian Reservations

Above, Window Rock Tribal Park and Veteran's Memorial. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Last week, Gov. Tim Walz, Kamala Harris's running mate, appeared at a rally in Window Rock, Arizona. Window Rock is the capital of the Navajo Nation. 

For some odd reason, Native Americans tend to vote Democrat. But in doing so, they are cutting their own throats as the open border policies of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris are allowing the drug cartels target tribal reservations.

The Daily Signal reported:

The Biden-Harris administration’s border crisis has had negative implications for all Americans, but one group that has suffered more than most—but received less attention than others—are American Indians living on reservations along the border.

As part of their efforts to smuggle drugs and traffic human beings across the southern border, Mexican cartels have specifically targeted and devastated these reservations.

Jurisdictional issues, insufficient law enforcement, and the open border all allow cartels to exploit tribal land and proliferate deadly substances like fentanyl on American Indian land.

Hopefully, former President Trump's rally in Albuquerque yesterday will do some good in swaying tribes to vote more Republican than in the past. 

To read more, go here.

President Nixon’s Lasting Impact On American Indian Life (Video)

 Yesterday morning, I received the following email from the Richard Nixon Foundation.

Five Oklahoma Tribal Leaders to Gather and Assess Impact of Nixon Policies on American Indian Life On Wednesday, October 16, 2024, the First Americans Museum and the Richard Nixon Foundation will host a landmark policy conference, Tribal Self-Determination Revisited: President Nixon’s Lasting Impact on American Indian Life. The event will bring together five prominent Oklahoma tribal leaders, along with policy makers and members of the Nixon administration, to discuss, reflect on and assess the ongoing effects —more than 50 years later— of the Nixon administration’s transformational federal policies on American Indian life and tribal sovereignty.

Japanese Photographer Spotlights WWII Native American Code Talkers

Above, the Navajo Code Talker statue in Window Rock, Arizona. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

In recent years, the famed Native American (Navajo) code talkers used during World War II have been receiving much recognition.

It has come to light that a Japanese photographer has been chronicling the code talkers' lives since then.

Kyodo News reported:

Until the 1960s, few knew of a special unit of Navajo code talkers in the U.S. Marine Corps who helped ensure the secrecy of U.S. military communications in the Pacific theater during World War II.

For the past several decades, however, their story has been chronicled by a photographer from Japan, the country with which they were at war, who has not only celebrated their pivotal wartime contributions but also shed light on the complex legacy of cultural suppression they endured.

The young Native American men experienced combat in several battles including the Battle of Okinawa, which raged for nearly three months until June 1945 and is widely considered the war's bloodiest conflict in the Pacific theater.

 To read more, go here.

Gallup Summer Indian Dances

Above, a dancer from the Zuni Pueblo. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

A little while ago, I received a notice about this summer's Indian dances.

I was pleased to see that they've been moved back to the Courthouse Square. 

According to the Visit Gallup Facebook page:

The Gallup Summer Indian Dances take place every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings from June 4, 2024 through August 29, 2024, from 6PM to 8PM in the Gallup McKinley Courthouse Square.

On those nights, dances are performed by the Indian tribes in the area such as Navajo, Hopi, Zuni and others.

I have been to many of the dances and all have been entertaining to watch.

Classic Rock Music Monday

The stuff that now passes as "music", particularly rock 'n roll, leaves me cold. So, to start off the week, here's a video of a classic rock artist. 

To start off the week, we have a rock group from California founded in 1969 called Redbone with the live version of their 1974 hit, "Come and Get Your Love" on the Midnight Special (remember that show?). The group consisted (at their peak) of two Native Americans and two Mexican-Americans. 

From Wikipedia:

Redbone is an American rock band formed in Fresno, California, in 1969 by brothers Pat and Lolly Vegas. All members during their commercial peak and success were of Mexican American and Native American heritage, which was heavily reflected in their songs, stage costumes, and album art.

They reached the Top 5 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1974 with their hit single, "Come and Get Your Love". The single went certified Gold selling over a million copies. It also made Redbone the first Native American band to reach the top five on the US Billboard Hot 100, with the song reaching number 5. Redbone achieved success in the United States with their singles "We Were All Wounded at Wounded Knee", "The Witch Queen of New Orleans", "Wovoka", and "Maggie", although these songs were more successful overseas.

Pat has been the sole member of the band since Lolly's death in 2010.

Investigation of "Lovelock Giants"

The following had been passed on to me last evening.

It concerns the legendary "Lovelock Giants" of Nevada. Supposedly, skeletons of larger than normal humans have been found in caves in the state near Lovelock, Nevada along with other artifacts. The heights of these skeletons are eight to ten feet tall.

According to NDTV:

Recent archaeological discoveries in Nevada have reignited interest in a long-held legend of red-haired giants who once roamed the Americas, according to The Independent.

The story began in 1911, when miners digging for fertiliser in Lovelock Cave unearthed unusual artifacts. This led to official excavations in 1912 and 1924, uncovering thousands of artefacts and the remains of individuals nicknamed the "Lovelock Giants." These mummies measured an astonishing 8 to 10 feet tall, according to the news outlet.

Archaeologists also found a 15-inch-long sandal showing signs of wear, and a boulder with a seemingly giant handprint etched onto it. A 1931 local newspaper article reported the discovery of two more giant skeletons, around 8.5 and 10 feet tall, in a nearby dry lake bed. These remains were even described as being mummified in a similar way to those of the Ancient Egyptians.

Intriguingly, the Paiute tribe inhabiting the region for millennia possesses a legend of cannibalistic red-haired giants called the Si-Te-Cah. These giants, according to the legend, arrived by sea and dominated the area due to their superior size and strength.

Further supporting the legend, a 16th-century Spanish conquistador documented an ancient Peruvian tale about giants who crossed the ocean on large reed rafts. He described them as being so tall that their legs from the knee down were as long as an average man's entire body.

 To read more, go here.

San Diego Rodeo Ban Would Threaten Tribal History and Culture

Above, many rodeos in the Southwest are predominantly Native American. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Once upon a time, the city of San Diego was pretty much a conservative city with Republican mayors and council members. That has apparently gone by the wayside as liberal lunatics have taken over and there is talk of an ordinance banning rodeos within the city.

Nearby Native American tribes call any ban on rodeos a threat to their history and culture. 

The San Diego Union-Tribune reported:

SAN DIEGO —  Local tribal leaders and charro groups are lobbying San Diego to put the brakes on a proposed citywide rodeo ban, contending city leaders have been duped by activists and need to thoroughly educate themselves.

While the ban wouldn’t apply to local tribes because their land is outside the city limits, they’re fighting it because they believe bans proposed recently in San Diego and Los Angeles could spread statewide quickly.

They say San Diego’s ban threatens longtime traditions because rodeos are a cultural practice with roots that have been intertwined with Black, Indigenous and Mexican American communities for centuries.

“The city has not equipped itself with accurate information to craft sensible, equitable policy, and we fear that it could lead to a dismissal of our cultural history and heritage in San Diego,” the groups said in a joint letter to the city. “In the spirit of inclusivity, we urge the City Council and its staff to participate in a dialogue and begin their educational journey on our practices and values.”

This really shouldn't come as much of a surprise. After all, we're talking California (i.e., Commiefornia) here.

To read more, go here. 

Tribes and Feds Agree On Fort Wingate Restoration

Above, the front entrance to the Fort Wingate Army Depot. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

About 10 miles west of my home (as the crow flies), Fort Wingate sits unused since 1993. It is a former Army depot.

Two tribes have come to an agreement with the federal government on future restoration of the Fort Wingate property.

AP News (Associated Press) reported:

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Two Native American tribes, the state of New Mexico and the U.S. Army have finalized a restoration plan for a former military installation near Gallup.

Explosives and munitions were stored and disposed of at Fort Wingate until it closed in 1993.

The Navajo Nation, Zuni Pueblo and the New Mexico Office of Natural Resources Trustee reached an agreement with the federal government in March 2022 to settle claims that land, water and cultural resources were negatively impacted by hazardous substances at the site.

The site now is undergoing environmental cleanup before the tract of land can be transferred to the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs to benefit the two tribes. Both tribes have long-standing historical ties to the lands in and around Fort Wingate, which sits on about 24 square miles (62 square kilometers). The land is almost entirely surrounded by federally owned or administered lands, including national forest and tribal lands.

To read more, go here. 

Tribal Traditions During An Eclipse

Above, the Great American Eclipse of 2017. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

While those of us who are in the path of today's annular solar eclipse will be observing it, Native American tribes will be honoring the event in different ways.

As such, tribal parks such as Monument Valley Tribal Park will be closed during the duration of the eclipse.

From KFOR:

OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) – As the annular solar eclipse crosses over North America on Saturday, Oct. 14, tribal nations across the U.S. are using the occasion to pass down cultural teachings, share stories and ensure members, especially younger generations, learn sacred traditions.

Here are a few examples:

Since I live across Interstate 40 from parts of the Navajo Nation, here's what the Navajos will do during the eclipse:

Navajo

For the Diné, or Navajo, an eclipse is about solemnity — not spectacle. It marks the end of a cycle and the power of when the moon and sun are in alignment. When the sun is blocked, it is undergoing a rebirth. It also is seen as the moon and the sun embracing each other.

“There’s so many things we’re not supposed to do as Diné people compared to other tribes, where it’s OK for them to look at the eclipse or be out or do things,” said Krystal Curley, executive director of nonprofit Indigenous Life Ways.

Don’t: Look at the eclipse, eat, drink, sleep or engage in physical activity.

Do: Sit at home and reflect or pray during what’s considered an intimate, celestial moment.

Paul Begay, a Diné cultural adviser for guided hikes with Taadidiin Tours in Antelope Canyon, said he was taught from a young age that deities are responsible for creation starting with the first man and first woman, who traveled through four worlds.

Begay described an eclipse as a disturbance, or death of the sun, which is considered a father figure in Navajo culture. Out of respect, he said, all activity stops.

“It’s just a show of reverency, a show of being the way the holy people would want you to be,” Begay said. “Of course, the eclipse will subside in due time and activities go back to normalcy.”

To read more, go here. 

Indigenous People Were Never “Afraid” Of Yellowstone

Above, indigenous people lived in Yellowstone and used its resources for thousands of years. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Many moons ago, the myth got started that indigenous people were "afraid" of the area that is now known as Yellowstone National Park.

There is evidence that indigenous people actually lived within the area.

National Parks Traveler has posted an article showing how this myth is totally untrue.

They begin with:

A long-told myth about Yellowstone is that indigenous people were “afraid” of the area owing to the geysers and thermal activity. But archaeological evidence and oral histories and even an early map throw cold water on this story.

The Lewis and Clark expedition of 1804–1806 never entered the Yellowstone area, although they were tantalizingly close—on the return journey from the Pacific Ocean, a group led by Captain William Clark passed through present-day Livingston and journeyed down the Yellowstone River from that point. Nevertheless, in Clark’s journal of the expedition, in a section labeled “Notes of Information I believe Correct,” the following passage appears regarding the Yellowstone River:

"At the head of this river the nativs give an account that there is frequently herd a loud noise, like Thunder, which makes the earth Tremble, they State that they seldom go there because their children Cannot sleep—and Conceive it possessed of spirits, who were averse that men Should be near them."

This statement is one of the first mentions of the Yellowstone area by Euro-Americans, and also the first suggestion that indigenous people were somehow afraid of the region. Curiously, the passage was not written at the time of the exploration, but some years later, and it is unclear where Clark obtained this information.

Regardless of from where and when the information arrived with Clark, it’s wrong. Indigenous people have never been afraid of Yellowstone, and in fact lived in the area and used its resources for thousands of years. The evidence for this long association with the Yellowstone region comes from written, oral, and archeological records.

To read more, go here.