An Inside look at the name change to the “Battle of the Little Big Horn”

Behind every law passed by the U.S. Congress is a story. Somebody, somewhere wants to change something about the government or establish something new. Both of those endeavors require federal law. The name change from Custer’s Last Stand to the Battle of the Little Big Horn is point in case, because the battlefield site is historic and under the management of the U.S. National Park Service (NPS), a national historic site and supported by federal funds.

It is interesting that very few of the bills introduced in Congress make it through the maze of procedures in order to finally wind up on the President’s desk for signature, that is, if not vetoed. Our own Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell had a very high success rate of getting laws passed—53 during his career as a U.S. Representative and Senator. Compare that to Senator Al Gore, once a Presidential candidate, who had only one under his belt.

Ben has often said that his most important legislative accomplishment in decades of public service was getting the Battlefield name change. Recently, he told A Cheyenne Review why he feels that way. Further, he shared the story of the legislative battle to get that done. It is recorded here Cheyenne style: it is told as he told it, with nothing added and nothing taken away.

Ben’s personal history with the battlefield goes back to 1972. At that time, he was serving as one of the ten on the Northern Cheyenne Chief’s Society, also known as the old man chiefs (in contrast to warrior chiefs.) Traditionally, they made major decisions for the Tribe such as when to go to war; where to camp in the winter; when to schedule the Sun Dance; and settled major disputes such as an intertribal murder, nearly unheard of in those days. Actually, up until the Reservation era the number of such crimes could be counted on two hands.

The Head Chief was Austin Two Moons, Sr. who carried the sacred Sweet Medicine bundle for the Tribe. He and Ben were very close. Two Moons devoted his later life to the mission of world peace and became well known for his humanitarian efforts. Indeed, he was invited to meet with the Pope to discuss that common goal and concern.

In 1976, at the height of the American Indian Movement and other minority movements, Austin organized a day of Prayer for World Peace at the battlefield. People from many tribal nations and non-Indians attended, as did Ben.

Ben remembers that the logistics were all messed up. First, the peaceful assembly was denied access to the Battlefield by the NPS which meant “No Natives” allowed. Quick arrangements were made with a sympathetic Crow tribal member to hold the prayer ceremony in a field across from the Battlefield.

During the event, Ben, a former lawman in California, noticed that National Guardsmen were rifling through the Indian cars, searching the trunks and interiors. They were also taking license plate numbers. Everyone was nervous about the helicopters droning overhead, the whapping blades and whining engines making it hard for the participants to hear. Several members of the audience -especially children- became fearful, and it must have evoked dreadful memories from the Native veterans present. And, after the event was over, the Cheyenne had an uninvited helicopter escort back to the Reservation.

“It made me so angry,” Ben recalled. “I vowed then and there to do something about that. To make the Battlefield accessible, friendly and respectful to the Tribes and tribal people. After all, a group of 7th Calvary re-enactors would have been welcomed.”

It was a promise not forgotten. Ben recalled “Once I got in the Senate many years later, serving as Chairman of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee, I got the chance. I introduced a bill to change the name from Custer’s Last Stand to the Battle of the Little Big Horn. Though the Northern Cheyenne call it the Battle of the Greasy Grass, Little Big Horn was acceptable to them. Getting that passed was harder than I thought it would be. Afterall, it was the only battlefield in America named after a person – worse yet, a loser – instead of a place.”

Custer buffs did not agree and the battle for the name change began. Ron Marlene, the Republican representative from Montana was the champion for opponents (Custer buffs and even the General’s descendants); and actively tried to kill the bill. Marlene represented groups such as the Little Big Horn Association, Hardin, who’s chairman Lowell Smith called the bill “History revision of the worst kind.”

Ben replied “History is written by the winners. When Indians won a battle it was a massacre, but when the Calvary won it was a victory. You’ll see the same thing in histories of native people throughout the world. It was not a battle; the Calvary was trying to kill women and children.”

On the other hand, Alan Simpson, a very powerful Senator from Wyoming strongly worked in favor of the bill, while his conservative co-Senator Wallop from Wyoming “Just got out of the way,” Ben reported. Senator Orrin Hatch, Utah, and Al Simpson carried the Senate version of the bill. Senator Inouye, a Japanese WW11 veteran, Hawaii, was also a key to passage. He was a close personal friend to Ben and later became Chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian affairs, championing the needs of tribal peoples. “You can’t get anything done in Congress without support,” Ben explained.

Every Indian Tribe in the country supported the bill, as did Pat Williams, former MT Congressman; tribal organizations, such as National Congress of American Indians, supported it, while the NPS had to remain neutral. The Battlefield, by the way, is the third largest tourist attraction in the State of Montana, averaging 250,000 per year. Only Yellowstone and Glacier Parks get more tourists. Eventually, even the conservative town of Hardin, MT and Big Horn County supported the bill recognizing the potential for more tourism. Finally, the MT State Legislature and MT Tribal Chairmen’s Association passed resolutions of the support for the name change. Many other individuals worked behind the scenes to help, including Chauncey Whitney, a volunteer native lobbyist and the then Battlefield Superintendent Barbara Boor, an enrolled Cherokee, the first woman to be an NPS Superintendent. Now that she is retired it is safe to report that she actively worked behind the scenes to help.

During consideration of the legislation the opposing side “Just like Custer” were overwhelmed. The legislation became law in 1991, signed into law by President George H. Bush.

“It will honor Indians who fought at the Battle of the Little Big Horn forever,” Ben smiled. “That is piva (good).”

The tribes couldn’t agree more. Thank you, Senator.

(Contact Clara Caufield at acheyennereview@gmail.com)

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