{"id":39045,"date":"2025-08-01T10:59:29","date_gmt":"2025-08-01T15:59:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/unitedresourceconnection.org\/cannon-ball-nd-58528\/collins-littlewhiteman-northern-cheyenne-cowboy-to-the-bone\/"},"modified":"2025-08-01T10:59:31","modified_gmt":"2025-08-01T15:59:31","slug":"collins-littlewhiteman-northern-cheyenne-cowboy-to-the-bone","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/unitedresourceconnection.org\/cannon-ball-nd-58528\/collins-littlewhiteman-northern-cheyenne-cowboy-to-the-bone\/","title":{"rendered":"Collins Littlewhiteman\u2014Northern Cheyenne cowboy \u2018to the bone\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Collins LIttlewhiteman, Northern Cheyenne old-time cowboy.
(Photo courtesy Clara Caufield)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

LAME DEER, Mont. \u2013 I\u2019ve known Collins for \u201clong time now\u201d and testify he is an Indian cowboy in spades. He likes to read what I write. When asked about a story on him, he shrugged. \u201cNot much to tell. Just cowboying and training a few good horses. That\u2019s about it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Like most real cowboys, Collins doesn\u2019t talk much. His work and ability speak for themselves. For example, while reviewing this article his only response was a grin; a nod; and \u201cthat\u2019s right.\u201d He only did a little fine-tuning. At 73, he\u2019s still long and lean; a ropin\u2019 machine; overall a good lookin\u2019 son of gun for his years.<\/p>\n

Just cowboying? We disagree. This part of the Universe was developed on backs of such men, Collins is one of them. I\u2019m proud to have him call me \u201cpard\u201d or \u201ccowgirl.\u201d That means something coming from him.<\/p>\n

Collins is a full-blood Northern Cheyenne, but not the type to brag or dwell upon it. And he has gained respect for the Northern Cheyenne from the many cow bosses he has worked for over the past fifty plus years. \u201cJohn Small is the only one on Kirby Creek I never worked for. Rode for all the rest of them,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n

Collins came into this world in 1952, oldest of seven siblings born in a log cabin between Lame Deer and Busby. His parents were Wayne and Lucy White Dirt Little Whiteman. His maternal grandfather Charles White Dirt was very influential, teaching Collins traditional ways, which is why Collins is a headsman for the Elk Scraper Military Society.<\/p>\n

The log cabin was a far sight from the road, he once pointed out where it was\u2014 across a big ravine, but the family home unfortunately burned down. \u201cI grew up quiet and still like it that way,\u201d he smiled. At 14, Collins started a string of rodeo and horse racing successes. His father offered to haul four horses to Crow for an Indian Relay Race provided Collins do the shoeing. He won that day, the youngest jockey and was proud that it was his own working horses, personally trained, to win that coup.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s because they had covered a lot of country,\u201d he explained. As a youngster Collins went everywhere horseback and was frequently asked to put \u201cmiles\u201d on known buckers. \u201cI could usually get them over it,\u201d he modestly said. \u201cGot \u2018em real tired.\u201d<\/p>\n

During high school Collins went to work full-time, cowboying on the huge Padlock ranch which then had most of the Reservation leased. And he got jobs for his cowboy friends such as Kenny Peppers. \u201cWe went to Conley Cow Camp on the Crow Reservation in spring and came home in the fall.\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

After high school, Collins\u2019 cowboy career, including horse racing and roping at rodeos took him across several states and he was away from the Reservation for 31 years, which is why many younger Cheyenne don\u2019t know what a great \u201chand\u201d he is. As noted before, Collins isn\u2019t the type to offer such information, unless prodded. He lived in Elko, Nevada for several years, riding horses and working construction, a self-taught carpenter by trade. \u201cThere\u2019s a Navajo on every street corner,\u201d he grinned. \u201cGot along with them pretty good. It\u2019s a big country.\u201d<\/p>\n

However, he did most of his cowboying at the huge Arapahoe Ranch in Wind River Country where they run about 19,000 head, steers and heifers. \u201cLot of wet saddle blankets, long days and broncs on that job,\u201d he succinctly noted.<\/p>\n

The roping practice paid off in that Collins became a top team roper in the Indian circuit, traveling through the West, most often coming home with cash winnings in his pocket, unless he got trapped in a Casino. He fondly mentioned his two main roping and traveling partners: George Hardin, Western Shoshone and Justin Whiteman, Northern Arapahoe. \u201cThey kinda hated to see us coming,\u201d he grinned. \u201cWe won a few.\u201d<\/p>\n

During off time he rode the rough off of horses for Darrel Winston, the \u201cMarlboro Man\u201d who became a good friend and the two picked a few coins from that collaboration following the cowboy code: buy low and sell high. Of course, in order to do that a lot saddle time is required. For Collins could not only ride the buck out, he had finesse. \u201cSoft hands is what it\u2019s about,\u201d he says. \u201cBut so people won\u2019t be confused, I mean gentle hands, not hands that hurt a horses\u2019 mouth.\u201d<\/p>\n

In 2010 Collins came home where he became a right-hand man to Jerry Small, Northern Cheyenne, cowboy, a rodeo legend and friend since childhood. And he did \u201cday work\u201d for many other area ranchers. Unfortunately, last year the cowboy we write about was seriously injured by a hit and run driver. Though it\u2019s taken over a year; several surgeries; and wheel chair duty, he is nicely recovering, even able to ride again, though he might now go a little easier on the broncs.<\/p>\n

In his spare time, Collins repairs saddles; makes reins; halters and hobbles, functional cowboy gear. \u201cI hung around some old saddle makers to learn that,\u201d he explained. \u201cI unwind old ropes and make a halter that will never break.\u201d<\/p>\n

After recovering a little bit more, Collins may return to the Arapahoe Ranch where the foreman needs \u201csomebody who knows what they are doing.\u201d<\/p>\n

Chris Small, Kirby rancher who is also still riding even though older than Collins, remarked \u201cCollins always cowboyed the old way. He knows how to work cattle. There\u2019s hardly anybody like him left. These young ones often use 4-wheelers to move cattle which don\u2019t work in big country. Collins worked with the old-time cowboys, and learned at a young age. His brother Duane was the same way. Now Collins is one of the few old-time cowboys left. He knows what he\u2019s doing. He won\u2019t tell you, he\u2019ll just do it and hope you notice.\u201d<\/p>\n

Going back to Wyoming will also bring Collins closer to his children and grandchildren who live in the Wind River area. He also has children and grandchildren in North Dakota, seven children and eleven grandchildren in all. Wyoming\u2019s\u2019 gain will be our loss.<\/p>\n

Good luck and happy trails cowboy. Keep the wind to your back.<\/p>\n

Note: This photo is large, so Collins can clip it and finally have a picture of himself. A darn ex-wife took off with all the other pictures of him. And some trophy buckles too.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf it was up to pictures to prove I could rope, couldn\u2019t do it,\u201d he chuckled. He stands with a saddle which has seen some hard riding for the past decade, one he purchased second-hand and repaired.<\/p>\n

(Contact Clara Caufield at acheyennereview@gmail.com)<\/span><\/p>\n

The post Collins Littlewhiteman\u2014Northern Cheyenne cowboy \u2018to the bone\u2019<\/a> first appeared on Native Sun News Today<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Collins LIttlewhiteman, Northern Cheyenne old-time cowboy.(Photo courtesy Clara Caufield) LAME DEER, Mont. \u2013 I\u2019ve known Collins for \u201clong time now\u201d and testify he is an Indian cowboy in spades. He likes to read what I write. When asked about a story on him, he shrugged. \u201cNot much to tell. Just <\/p>\n

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