The Crow Native American tribe, with over 10,000 registered members, occupies a reservation in Montana. They speak a Siouan language and have a new system of government. The tribe is economically disadvantaged, sustaining themselves through ranching, agriculture, mining, and tourism, including hosting the Crow Fair.
Native American ravens are members of an Indian tribe that originated in the United States. After slowly migrating west from the Missouri Valley in response to colonial expansion and European contact, Crow Native Americans now occupy a reservation located in south-central Montana. There are more than 10,000 registered members of the tribe.
Most members of the Crow tribe speak English, but they also share a common Missouri Valley Siouan language. More than 80 percent of them still speak this language, and tribal affairs are required to be conducted in it. The Crow language is the most widely spoken non-English language in Montana.
Approximately 70 percent of all Crow Native Americans live on a reservation of approximately 2.5 million acres (1 million hectares), with the remaining members residing in nearby communities. This is the fifth largest Indian reservation in the United States and is located primarily in Yellowstone and Big Horn counties in south-central Montana near Billings. Passing through the preserve are the Bighorn, Wolf and Pryor mountain ranges and the Big Horn and Little Big Horn rivers. The reservation has six major cities, with Crow Agency being the largest, at around 1,600 people, as well as being the seat of government for the tribe.
Several treaties with the United States established the Crow as a sovereign nation within the reservation’s boundaries. For many years, the system of government used by the Crow Native Americans was a direct democracy, something similar to that of ancient Athens, reflecting their past as nomadic tribes. In 2001, a new constitution was passed and the Crows changed their system of government. According to the new constitution, there are three branches of government: executive, legislative and judicial. A system of separation of powers with checks and balances between branches was established.
Some Native American tribes thrived on legalized gambling or the sale of natural resources, but the Crows did not. Native American Crows are economically disadvantaged, with over 40% living below the poverty line as of 2010. There is a shortage of housing with adequate plumbing, insulation, and electricity.
Native American crows sustain themselves primarily by ranching, agriculture, and some mining. Some work for the tribal government. Tourism also generates income for the tribe. The Little Bighorn National Monument, the site of General George Custer’s last stand, is located on the reservation. Every August, the tribe hosts the Crow Fair, which is widely considered the largest and best Indian celebration on the Northern Plains.
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