Native Americans Mark Little Bighorn's 150th Anniversary With Horse Rides and Reenactments
Updated
Updated · Fortune · Jun 25
Native Americans Mark Little Bighorn's 150th Anniversary With Horse Rides and Reenactments
3 articles · Updated · Fortune · Jun 25
Summary
Hundreds of Native Americans from numerous tribes gathered near Montana's Little Bighorn battlefield this week for the battle's 150th anniversary, holding horse rides, reenactments and camp ceremonies.
More than 200 of Lt. Col. George Armstrong Custer's troops were killed there in 1876, when allied tribes defeated divided U.S. Army forces while resisting westward expansion and removal to reservations.
Several hundred riders traveled hundreds of miles to the Crow Agency area, while families were urged to share oral histories and Standing Rock planned horse races, songs and dances tied to the victory.
For many participants, the commemoration is less about Custer than survival — a public assertion that Native nations, languages and traditions endured despite the harsher federal campaigns that followed the battle.
150 years after a battle for the Black Hills, can modern lawsuits protect sacred Native lands from new resource extraction?
As Native nations celebrate a historic victory, what does true justice and reconciliation look like for them in America today?
150 Years After Little Bighorn: Native Commemoration, Historical Legacy, and the Ongoing Fight for Justice
Overview
The 150th anniversary of the Battle of Little Bighorn in June 2026 brought together thousands of Native Americans and visitors for a series of commemorative events at the historic site. Around 19 tribes participated, creating a powerful display of unity and shared heritage. These gatherings went beyond remembering history—they became vibrant celebrations of cultural resilience and a deep connection to ancestral land. Rooted in oral traditions and cultural practices, the events fostered intergenerational knowledge transfer, with youth actively involved. This atmosphere of unity and renewal highlighted the enduring spirit and strength of the participating communities.