Northern Cheyenne loses inspirational leader

LAME DEER, Mont. – On December 8, hundreds of Northern Cheyenne gathered in Lame Deer to honor and bid farewell to a contemporary Cheyenne warrior: Zane Francis Spang, “Shkit Eh Yoht Hehf” (translated “Little Missouri”) passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family. He was 85 years old. The Northern Cheyenne lost an iconic leader who had devoted himself to Indian education, health care and many other pursuits throughout his long life. He advocated for all Native Americans and led by example.

He was born on January 27, 1940 at the old BIA hospital in Lame Deer, Mont., to Wilfred and Jenny Spang. Zane was a proud member of the Northern Cheyenne Nation and a true Cheyenne warrior and tireless educator/ advocate who gave his all to his family, his community and championed Native Peoples everywhere.

Zane was a fluent Cheyenne speaker who grew up in Lame Deer, Mont. on the Northern Cheyenne Reservation speaking Cheyenne first and English second. He loved his reservation homeland and as a young man he and his brothers would often spend whole days out in around Lame Deer hunting and exploring, coming back at dark to their mother Jenny ‘s calls for dinner. He hunted his whole life on horseback, on foot and by truck with this sons, brothers, nieces and nephews and cousins on the Cheyenne homeland, the Tongue River Breaks off the reservation, correctly call it the “Northern Cheyenne National Forest” (aka Custer National Forest located in the Ashland area); places like Hole in the Wall; Poker Jim Butte: nearly all the local creeks such as Timber; O’ dell; Horse Creek; Cow and 15 Mile to name but a few.

Zane was a kind-hearted Cheyenne man, with a loyal heart and a twinkle in his eye. He made friends wherever he went and was known and loved by people all over the world. Zane was the most loving husband, father and grandfather. He centered his life on teachings from the Bible as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses. He loved spending time with this family; and especially to pit barbecue meat, ride horses, cruise the homeland, pick plums and chokecherries and visit. He was knowledgeable in horsemanship, higher education, Northern Cheyenne language, and sports, especially basketball and baseball, but had vast knowledge far beyond that. He graduated from Colstrip High School in 1958 and quickly earned a 2-year business degree in 1960 from the Billings Business College. After many years of encouraging family members to pursue their college degrees, Zane followed his own advice and went to college late in life, graduating from Montana State University Billings with a Bachelor’s degree in Human Services at the age of 58. In 2002, Zane received the Outstanding Alumni Award from MSU-Billings in recognition of his outstanding contributions.

He worked for many years for the Bureau of Indian Affairs Area Office in Billings, Mont. In 1968 he moved his family to Sitka, Alaska where he worked for the Mt. Edgecumbe BIA Boarding School for several years. This was a special memory for the family where the family was able to explore the ocean in their own boat. They then moved to Portland and then to Seattle area while he worked at various BIA Educational facilities. In 1976 the family moved back home to the family ranch near Ashland on the Northern Cheyenne Reservation.

He then worked for the state of Montana helping Native youth as a Talent Search Coordinator; ran the tribal TERO office; was Director (SUD) of the Northern Cheyenne Indian Health Service Clinic for 3 years; and then began a career with Chief Dull Knife College in Lame Deer which spanned several decades. He also served as the Chairman of the Board, Northern Cheyenne Boy’ s and Girl’s Club in Lame Deer, Mont. for many years helping provide services to local area youth and the community.

Zane was a kind and compassionate leader and a visionary. As IHS SUD he instituted an open-door policy, giving staff and community access to him to air their concerns, creating an atmosphere of unity that attracted highly talented doctors from across the country. He also oversaw the construction and opening of a new IHS clinic at Lame Deer. He wrote and managed millions of dollars in grants for CDKC: oversaw staff and students with compassion, kindness and encouragement, conceived of and implemented the “Circle of Schools’ Coalition” that united area schools with CDKC to ensure a smooth entry into college. He procured equipment for and set up a Distance Learning program allowing CDKC students to participate in the Montana university system. He provided workshops tailored to the needs of the community whereby participants could earn needed credits and workshop presenters could be paid for their services. He also developed innovative programs to increase student’s scores in math and science and created a program that honored Northern Cheyenne elders, over 70 old with honorary degrees.

Special mention is made of a private family business created by Zane and Sandy called Cheyenne Trailrides that provided horseback tours of the Northern Cheyenne to local and worldwide clientele for 29 years. It began as a reward for the 2 Montana Native high school youth chosen from each reservation who had the best scores in math and science. The reward was a 3-day ride across the Northern Cheyenne Reservation on horseback and on buckboard wagons with presenters placed along the trail who demonstrated how math and science applied to careers. Sandy contacted Western Horseman Magazine when they decided to make a business of it and they ran a story she wrote and soon it morphed into horseback tours for people for 80+ countries with education still at the core of the business. On horseback and around campfires, guests were invited to challenge Native stereotypes and misconceptions while engaging in discussions about current issues and experiencing authentic Cheyenne history. Ethnobotany classes were offered, and visitors enjoyed Cheyenne flute music, storytelling, and dancing. They learned traditional Native games and stayed in tipis, camping out as they traveled across the Reservation. This unique business was featured on television in Germany and Italy, as well as in a KOA Campground commercial.

In his youth Zane was a talented athlete at many sports, baseball in particular. He was called the best pitcher in the state at the time by his legion baseball coach in Miles City and was recruited by a major league team. He turned the offer down as he couldn’t’ travel with a baseball farm club with this growing family. Later into the 70’s he and his sons Bently and Troy and his brother Leo started a slow pitch softball team called Redbone that existed for 12 years. They played with many local family and friends in the Colstrip league and Hardin leagues and across the region in tournaments and even created their own local fast pitch tournament. One year, they went undefeated at 32-0.

Zane loved his Northern Cheyenne community with all his heart. He was always brainstorming with his family about how to make things better for the students, the elders, the youth and everyone in between. He always helped without hesitation when he was asked and gave whatever he had to those in need. He loved setting up camp at the 4th of July Chiefs Powwow and riding horseback in the Ashland Chiefs Powwow parades. At each gathering, he looked forward to the elusive dry meat stew and menudo, always accompanied by his coffee—black with one sugar. In 2002 he and his brother Leo and cousins Dennis Limberhand and Winfield Russel created the Morning Start Rides horseback ride to honor our relative Limber Bones who died at the Battle of the Little Big Horn and our other relatives. Hundreds of riders have participated in it for over 19 years.

Zane is survived by his beloved wife of nearly 68 years, Sandy; their three children; and a legacy of grandchildren and great-grandchildren so numerous they cannot all be named here.

He was a true Northern Cheyenne warrior—an inspiration to so many. Though he has journeyed on, his spirit remains with his people, guiding them with courage and wisdom. The Northern Cheyenne have lost an inspirational leader, but his legacy will endure for generations.

(Contact Clara Caufield at acheyennereview@gmail.com)

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