"Freedom"
Kristin Abraham
acrylic on canvas - 24 Inches x 30 Inches
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Throughout Montana, memories of historic battles reside within the land. An Indian legend accounts the area known as Glacier National Park to have been created during a battle between the sun and moon. As the moon, Old Mother, chased the sun, Old Father, rocks were thrown and the landscape formed below.
In July of 1806, Meriwether Lewis was returning from the journey that he and Clarke made west. It was in Montana that Lewis’ party encountered the only disagreement leading to Native American bloodshed. As young Blackfeet Indians attempted to steal horses and ammunition from the sleeping party, Lewis awoke, and two Blackfeet boys were killed. This skirmish lead many to believe that the Indians would not adapt peacefully to white ways.
The title to the Montana-inspired painting holds a bit of irony in relation to the event illustrated. The Battle of the Little Bighorn (1876) symbolizes an instance where Native Americans defeated Custer and the 7th Calvary, in order to preserve their way of life. This victory was short-lived, as it would ignite a fierce response from the U.S. government, resulting in the end of a free, nomadic life for Native Americans.
In the summer of 1876, the U.S. 7th Calvary, led by Lt. Colonel
George Custer and Major Marcus Reno, were sent to force Sioux and Cheyenne tribes back to their reservation. As the 7th Calvary approached the Indian village of men, women and children, Indian forces led by Sioux warriors, Crazy horse and Sitting Bull became aware of the oncoming threat. When the two forces collided, the result was a bloody battle resulting in 268 U.S. casualties, including Colonel Custer. According to Yellow Horse, Red Horse and Little Buck Elk, 200 Lakota, Cheyenne and
Arapaho were killed, however, the National Park service only
recognizes 40 Native American casualties.
Illustrated, Old Woman chases Old Man while Crazy Horse and Sitting Bull stand in glorious strength on the bluff. Custer’s hat lies defeated in the foreground. The invasion of the U.S. imposing on Indian homelands remains a conflict today. At one point, a white man asked Crazy Horse,” Where is your land now?” Crazy Horse replied with, “My lands are where my dead lie buried.”
Sioux Empire Arts Council, Sioux Falls, South Dakota
View and purchase "Freedom" at Sioux Empire Arts Gallery "The Barn
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