06/22/2026
From June 23 to June 28, 2026, thousands of visitors and representatives from 19 Indigenous Nations are expected to gather in Montana for the 150th anniversary of the Battle of the Little Bighorn, known to many Indigenous peoples as the Battle of Greasy Grass.
The 1876 battle is remembered in different ways across the region. For Lakota, Dakota, Nakota, Northern Cheyenne, Arapaho, and other communities, Greasy Grass is connected to family histories, oral traditions, and the defense of homelands and lifeways during a period of intense U.S. military expansion. The battlefield is also located within Crow homelands, and Crow Agency will be central to several commemorative events.
One of the major gatherings will be the All Tribes Camp, a multi-tribe encampment near Crow Agency. Descendants of the Lakota, Dakota, Nakota, Northern Cheyenne, Arapaho, Crow, and other Nations are expected to take part. Organizers have said it will be the first time in generations that many descendants of the ancestral victory tribes have camped together in this way.
The commemorative week will include horse rides, cultural presentations, powwows, historical talks, reenactments, and ceremonies led by Tribal Nations and the National Park Service. The National Park Service is also offering free admission to the battlefield monument during the anniversary events.
For many families, the 150th anniversary is a time to honor ancestors, share community knowledge, and help younger generations understand the many histories connected to Greasy Grass.
How do you think stories like Greasy Grass should be remembered and shared with future generations?
