For four days each August, the hills of Montana are transformed into the spectacular "Tee-Pee Capital of the World."
Fairest of them all —
For four days each August, the hills of Montana are transformed into the spectacular "Tee-Pee Capital of the World."
Courtesy Montana Office of Tourism
Started in 1904, the Crow Fair and Rodeo is one of the largest gatherings of Native Americans in the country, with over a thousand tee-pees springing up for the festival.
Kaleidoscope of color —
Started in 1904, the Crow Fair and Rodeo is one of the largest gatherings of Native Americans in the country, with over a thousand tee-pees springing up for the festival.
Courtesy Montana Office of Tourism
Horses are a huge part of the carnival, appearing in the traditional morning parade, rodeo, and adrenalin-fueled Indian Relay racing event.
Horsing around —
Horses are a huge part of the carnival, appearing in the traditional morning parade, rodeo, and adrenalin-fueled Indian Relay racing event.
Courtesy Montana Office of Tourism
Each morning, the children are the first to rise from their tee-pees, taking the horses down to Little Big Horn River to drink.
Child's play —
Each morning, the children are the first to rise from their tee-pees, taking the horses down to Little Big Horn River to drink.
Courtesy Montana Office of Tourism
"You could call it the Wild West. But this is what we call it: The 'Tee-pee Capital of the World,'" said 78-year-old Crow Nation tribe member Robert Old Horn. "It's one of the largest Indian rodeos within the Unites States of America."
Tee-pee town —
"You could call it the Wild West. But this is what we call it: The 'Tee-pee Capital of the World,'" said 78-year-old Crow Nation tribe member Robert Old Horn. "It's one of the largest Indian rodeos within the Unites States of America."
Courtesy Montana Office of Tourism
"Rodeo basically developed from the range riders of old, that would come together and ride wild horses -- and by 'wild' I mean they were born wild, they were not used to humans handling them, so you have to tame them," said Old Horn. "How do you ride a horse that had never been rode before? That developed into rodeo today."
Rodeo ring —
"Rodeo basically developed from the range riders of old, that would come together and ride wild horses -- and by 'wild' I mean they were born wild, they were not used to humans handling them, so you have to tame them," said Old Horn. "How do you ride a horse that had never been rode before? That developed into rodeo today."
Courtesy Montana Office of Tourism
"What you will see is a collage of colors, many rainbows put together," said Old Horn. "At one time they used the earth's dyes to color their clothing."
Fantastic fashion —
"What you will see is a collage of colors, many rainbows put together," said Old Horn. "At one time they used the earth's dyes to color their clothing."
Courtesy Montana Office of Tourism
As a child, Jim Real Bird eagerly looked forward to Crow Fair every year. "Real early in the morning we'd wake up in those tee-pees, and we were pretty happy to slip the bridles off the horses and ride bareback to the river," said the 58-year-old today.
Young... —
As a child, Jim Real Bird eagerly looked forward to Crow Fair every year. "Real early in the morning we'd wake up in those tee-pees, and we were pretty happy to slip the bridles off the horses and ride bareback to the river," said the 58-year-old today.
Courtesy Montana Office of Tourism
"It started when people from Crow Nation put together an event for harvesting products -- that is wheat, corn, what people were taught to raise on their home land. They were taught to can, to preserve vegetables. In the Fall they had the Crow Fair to display what they grew in the summer," explained Old Horn.
...and old —
"It started when people from Crow Nation put together an event for harvesting products -- that is wheat, corn, what people were taught to raise on their home land. They were taught to can, to preserve vegetables. In the Fall they had the Crow Fair to display what they grew in the summer," explained Old Horn.
Courtesy Montana Office of Tourism
"Since I was old enough to remember, I remember being in camp and being around all those people, and all those horses, and from that age I look forward to it for the rest of my life," said Real Bird.
Grand tradition —
"Since I was old enough to remember, I remember being in camp and being around all those people, and all those horses, and from that age I look forward to it for the rest of my life," said Real Bird.
Courtesy Montana Office of Tourism
"American Indians have a special relationship with horses because it was a way of life," said Old Horn. "My family were known for their ability to ride bucking horses. There was a mastery to how they could ride a horse -- it involved timing, balance."
American dream —
"American Indians have a special relationship with horses because it was a way of life," said Old Horn. "My family were known for their ability to ride bucking horses. There was a mastery to how they could ride a horse -- it involved timing, balance."
Courtesy Montana Office of Tourism