Evening star., 1937-04-01

Out in the pine-foreSted foothills OF
the Big Horn Mountains in Montana
dwell several hundreds of the proudest
people in America-the Kicked the
bellies"
Generation after generation bears this
name with pride and dignity. 1t IS
commemorative of an outstanding event
in their racial history
Supt. Robert YelloWtail of the Crow
Indians who has been in Washington
for the past month attending to reserva-
ton business, has found, from extensive
questioning of old Indians, the origin
and significance of the name. About the
time the English we're planting a colony
at jamestown, it appears, Grow war
party made a raid far to the southwark
into country recently traversed by the
Spanish. Months later, after sue
cessful foray, they returned with their
loot.
This included a remarkable beast. 1t
was an animal almost as big and strong
as bison. Yet it was more doclle than
a dog. It allowed itself to be led about
with a rope around its neck. 1t per-
mitted a man to sit on its back ana
made no effort to throw him of. 1t was
nothing short of miracle. The great
est dignitaries of the tribe gathered
about the strange animal, hardly bellev-
ing their eyes Growing bolder, they
touched it. Finally one Of them took
hold of its tail-and the miracle came
to a sudden end.
The great medicine man was sent
sprawling on his back, moaning and
pressing his hands to his stomach. But
by the act of taking hold Of the beasts
tail he had acquired immortality He
was the first Grow to be kicked by
horse.
Saws Mr.. Yellowtail: THE name OF
Kicked in the belly was Immediately
given to him, and to this day large
division of the mountain Crows are
called the 'Kicked-in- the bellies
This incident" he continued, "ush-
cred in the introduction Of horses among
the Crow Indians, and soon thereafter
their herds we're augmented by raids
upon southern tribes. When they were
visited by Catlin in 1906 they had large
herds and were expert horsemen."
The introduction of horses was the
most significant event in Grow history.
1t completely changed the tribes way OF
life. The Grow and his mount were IN
separable. Pride in horsef1esh became
dominating motive. Horses were bred
for speed and endurance. The Grow
country went wild over "the races 1t
was the chief sport, and still is.
But Eastern civilization encroached
upon the Crow and his way of life. He
was ill-equipped for economic competl-
ton with the newcomers Finally he lost
heart, and with the discouragement his
mounts began to degenerate. Now one
of the pivotal steps MIR. Yellowtail is un-
dertaking in the renaissance of Grow
culture on the great mountain reserva-
ton is the restoration of the qualities
of the horses and the pride of the
owners in them. He is introducing
blooded stock from the United States
and Canada to supplement the Indian
ponies. Within a few years. he feels,
the reservation again will be a great
horse center.
The Crows rose and fell with their
horses. Before the war party returned
from the South with the first horse
they, in common with the other plains
tribes, had walked and used dogs as
beasts Of burden. They depended Tor
much of their living on bison hunting.
The animals were killed by being driven
over precipitous cliffs. When hero
was located piles of stones were piled at
intervals and behind these men con-
cealed themselves, wrapped in vol