Last Native American War Chief Dies – Explore the Rare Photos of His Past

Earlier this month, War Chief Joseph Medicine Crow died at the age of 102. He was the last surviving War Chief of Montana’s Crow Tribe. He also was the last surviving person to hear first hand accounts of The Battle of Little Big Horn. Medicine Crow earned his war chief status because of his work in Europe in World War II. He was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2009. You can see a video about his life below.

Photographs are an important part of history. They provide a window into time. And unlike the selfie era of today, over a hundred years ago, photographs weren’t very prevalent.

Edward Curtis was a photographer who did amazing work documenting Native Americans for over two decades. His amazing pictures allow us a unique view into this era.

Check out some of them below.

Man of the Crow Tribe on his horse, 1908.

An Apsaroke shaman, 1908.

Medicine Crow, of the Apsaroke tribe, 1908.

A mother and child of the Crow tribe, 1908.

A Kutenai duck hunter, 1910.

Group of men of the Navajo tribe in the Canyon de Chelly, Arizona, 1904.

Two Piegan girls gather the goldenrod plant, 1910.

Hollow Horn Bear, a Brulé man, 1907.

Wow! These photographs are simply amazing and give us the opportunity to see how things actually were over a hundred years ago.

What do you think of these pictures? Please share your thoughts.

H/T: Little Things