Crow students host MMIW Pow Wow
DAYTON, WY- In Big County, MT there have been 27 missing and murdered Native people (men and women). 87% of those cases have not been solved. Big Horn County includes all the Crow Indian reservation and a portion of the Northern Cheyenne.
Their loss and the overall tragedy of MMIW inspired four dedicated high school students to organize the first MMIW Pow Wow to be held at the Tongue River High School (TRHS), Dayton, WY on May 20th, 2021. TRHS is located off the Crow Reservation which borders the MT/WY State Line and is attended by many Crow students from the Wyola and Lodge Grass Communities.
Two years in the planning, the event was spearheaded by a group of dedicated and resourceful young Indian women leaders: Isabella (Ivy) Yellowtail, a sophomore and three of her classmates Azarich Kennedy, Marajah Pease, a 2020 State Cross County Champion, and Samera Kennedy. “We want to bring awareness to this horrible problem and do what we can to support the MMIW movement” Yellowtail said. “We had incredible support from the school, our families and the Crow Tribe for this event which lets us share our wonderful Crow culture with others. This is definitely a “go” for next year.”
“We really need and look up to our Indian women. Sometimes we don’t really value them until they go missing,” she stressed.
Ivy is rhe daughter of Mamie Stewart Yellowtail and “Corky” Yellowtail.
Despite inclement weather, chilly winds and rain which forced the Pow Wow to be moved to the more inviting high school gym, the event was very well attended, the audience of several hundred roughly half Crow and half non-Indian from the Sheridan, WY area. Throughout the pow wow, all the guests were encouraged to join in the social and round dancing to good effect. Proceeds from admission tickets and an Indian taco sale will be donated to the MMIW cause.
Beginning with the traditional grand entry, opening ceremonies included keynote speakers: Bill Yellowtail, retired MT Senator; Josh Stewart, TRHS alumni and coach of the Lodge Grass Indians 2021 Class C Basketball Champion; TRHS principal, Mr. Lynch and Laurie Kindness, Crow tribal member with 22 years of active military service.
Josh Stewart, a TRHS graduate and coach of the Lodge Grass Indians 2021 Class C Basketball Champions spoke of the loss of Salina, later discovered deceased, which attracted national attention She was the girlfriend of the Team Captain. The entire team rallied to help their teammate through the initial loss, though it will haunt people on the Crow Reservation forever.
A devout Christian, Stewart urged the audience to actively comfort people and friends. “The MMIW problem is like a storm,” he said. “Pow Wows and social gatherings allow us give a little show of hope to the families who are affected. Everyone has a story, and we should actively take time to listen.”
Shayla Conner, Northern Cheyenne and current reigning Ms. WYO Rodeo Queen was also on hand to lend support and participate. She spoke of her losing her cousin Hanna Harris and the corresponding Hanna Act enacted by Congress to draw attention to the problem. “I recommend a buddy system,” Conner stated. “Even if you are going to the bathroom at the mall. Be safe.”
In addition to the intertribal dancing, an exhibition of different dance styles was provided by Crow students such as Bobbie Pease and Fred Backbone. Under the able direction of Arena Director Neil Whitehip and MC Leonard Bends, the Blackwhistle and Nighthawk, Jr. drum groups treated the audience to excellent songs and drumming accompanying; traditional, fancy, jingle dress, Crow Hop, Push, Shake dances.
Marajah Pease summed it up by saying “This problem is nearly overwhelming, and we need to keep putting it out there to raise awareness.”
(Clara Caufield can be reached at acheyennevoice@gmail.com)
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May 27, 2021