Native Spirituality

Family with bicycles. Denver, CO. 1905-1910.

BATTLE OF THE LITTLE BIGHORN, history from elders 51 years later. In 1927, Wooden Leg, right, was pointing to a map of the Little Bighorn Battlefield, drawn by historian Thomas B. Marquis. The other Cheyenne warriors were, L to R, Little Sun, Wolf Chief, and Big Beaver. All had fought at the 1876 Battle in Eastern Montana. Three of the men held eagle wing fans when Marquis took the photo.

Marquis lived on the Northern Cheyenne reservations for some years, and learned Plains Indian sign language. He interviewed many warriors and wrote extensively on Custer’s defeat. Marquis’ most popular book was “Wooden Leg: A Warrior Who Fought Custer,” a volume rich in detail on Cheyenne life and the Battle of the Little Bighorn. Text and digital restoration of photo by Gary Coffrin. Click or zoom photo for more detail.

Also known as the Montagnais Innu, or the Naskapi Innu, the Innu homeland is primarily in eastern Quebec and Labrador.