Crow Nation Flag The name Apsáalooke means "children of the large-beaked bird," and was what the Hidatsa called this other group that somehow became so foreign to them. When French fur trappers encountered the Crow in the mid-1700s, they translated the name as ‘people of the crows,’ and the name has stuck ever since.
The Crow Indians were more isolated and independent than any of the other tribes that call Montana home today. They were constantly pushed from areas further east, and they even did the pushing themselves when they found an area they liked. That area was Montana, and they’ve been living in the state for more than 400 years.
The Crow Indians were more isolated and independent than any of the other tribes that call Montana home today. They were constantly pushed from areas further east, and they even did the pushing themselves when they found an area they liked. That area was Montana, and they’ve been living in the state for more than 400 years.
Pushed West
Karl Bodner Painting, c. 1840 to 1843 The Crow Indians settled in what would become the south-central area of Montana. Their road to the state was difficult, and included being pushed off of their original land in Ohio by the Ojibwas and the Crees. Around 1700 the Crow divided into two factions, the Hidatsa and the Apsáalooke. It was the Apsaalooke that continued westward, moving up into Canada to settle around Lake Winnipeg, while the Hidatsa stayed behind near the Missouri River.
Things weren’t much better there, however, and the Crow soon found themselves being pushed west again, this time by the Cheyenne. Things settled down for a time before both groups were then pushed west by the Sioux, who by that time were settling into the Black Hills of South Dakota as well as the Big Horn Mountains of Montana. The only thing to do was keep moving.
Only about 500 people traveled west, but the land they chose in eastern Montana and northern Wyoming served them well, and there numbers swelled to about 8,000 by the time the smallpox epidemic hit around 1850.
Things weren’t much better there, however, and the Crow soon found themselves being pushed west again, this time by the Cheyenne. Things settled down for a time before both groups were then pushed west by the Sioux, who by that time were settling into the Black Hills of South Dakota as well as the Big Horn Mountains of Montana. The only thing to do was keep moving.
Only about 500 people traveled west, but the land they chose in eastern Montana and northern Wyoming served them well, and there numbers swelled to about 8,000 by the time the smallpox epidemic hit around 1850.
Seizing Control
Bighorn River One group of Indians that was already in the area when the Crow arrived was the Shoshone. The Crow, tired of being pushed westward themselves, did the pushing this time, and the Shoshone were displaced. The Crow finally had an area to call their own, and it was at just the right time. The fur trade was just in its infancy in the area, but it would grow to a booming business, and helped keep the Crow’s dominance of the area secure.
The Crow’s area came to encompass much of the area south and east of what is now Billings, and their territory covered a huge area of south-central Montana, including the Judith, Tongue, Big Horn, and Wind Rivers. The mountain ranges that their area encompassed included the Bighorn, Pryor, and Wolf Mountains, as well as the Absaroka Range.
When they had the area secure and just the way they liked it, they no longer needed to stay together, so they split apart into three groups: the Mountain Crow, the River Crow, and the Kicked in the Bellies. They increasingly adopted the nomadic lifestyle so common among the Plains Indians, and their hunting skills increased substantially.
The Crow’s area came to encompass much of the area south and east of what is now Billings, and their territory covered a huge area of south-central Montana, including the Judith, Tongue, Big Horn, and Wind Rivers. The mountain ranges that their area encompassed included the Bighorn, Pryor, and Wolf Mountains, as well as the Absaroka Range.
When they had the area secure and just the way they liked it, they no longer needed to stay together, so they split apart into three groups: the Mountain Crow, the River Crow, and the Kicked in the Bellies. They increasingly adopted the nomadic lifestyle so common among the Plains Indians, and their hunting skills increased substantially.
Way of Life
Musselshell River by Selkirk The crow lived in tepees, which the wife owned, along with all things related to cooking. The husband owned everything else, although both had their own horse, and if there was ever a divorce, they would split the possessions equally. While they ate all the meats that the plains had to offer, fish were considered strictly taboo.
The Crown never befriended any of the tribes that pushed them west, although they did eventually ally with the white settlers, even becoming scouts for the US Army. The other tribes in the area didn’t like the Crows, and often allied together to fight them.
The Crown never befriended any of the tribes that pushed them west, although they did eventually ally with the white settlers, even becoming scouts for the US Army. The other tribes in the area didn’t like the Crows, and often allied together to fight them.
