Thomas Yellowtail facts for kids
Thomas Yellowtail (born March 7, 1903 – died November 24, 1993) was a very important spiritual leader for the Crow tribe. He was a Medicine Man and the chief of the Sun Dance for over 30 years. Thomas Yellowtail spent his whole adult life working to keep the Sun Dance religion alive and strong.
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Growing Up on the Crow Reservation
Thomas Yellowtail was born near Lodge Grass, Montana. This was on the Crow Indian reservation. His father's name was Hawk with the Yellow Tail Feathers. At that time, the U.S. Government gave last names to Native Americans. This was to help with records and to make them live more like white people. So, Thomas was given the last name Yellowtail.
When Yellowtail was young, many old warriors were still alive. These were men who had fought in the Plains Wars. They had lived the traditional, traveling life of their people. Even though they were now on reservations, Yellowtail often saw them. He watched them around campfires and taking part in sacred ceremonies.
Learning from Elders and Facing Challenges
The Lodge Grass valley was known as the "Valley of the Chiefs." This was because many great war chiefs lived there when Yellowtail was a boy. When he was only six, Yellowtail received a big honor. One of the Crow Nation's most famous chiefs, Medicine Crow, gave him an Indian name. His new name was Medicine Rock Chief. Getting a name from such a famous chief was special. It came from Chief Medicine Crow's own spiritual power.
These older people, whom Yellowtail called "old timers," shaped his youth. They had lived the traditional nomadic life. They taught him to love the spiritual ways of his ancestors. Yellowtail often said that these traditional spiritual values should be at the center of our lives today.
However, the United States Government tried to stop these traditions. Laws were made that banned many ceremonies, like the Sun Dance. This ban lasted for almost 50 years. During this time, reservation children, including Yellowtail, were taken from their homes. They were forced to go to government boarding schools. At these schools, children could not speak their own language. They had to wear different clothes and cut their hair.
Also, many Christian churches opened near the reservations. They tried to get Native Americans to change their traditions. On the Crow reservation, each family was told to join one of these churches.
The Sun Dance Returns to the Crow People
The Crow tribe did not perform their Sun Dance during the 50 years it was banned. When the Sun Dance became legal again in 1934, the original Crow Sun Dance was forgotten. It could not be brought back.
However, the Shoshone tribe had kept performing their Sun Dance in secret. When the ban ended, John Trehero, a Shoshone medicine man, became a leading Sun Dance chief. The Crow tribe asked John Trehero for help. They wanted him to lead a Sun Dance on the Crow Reservation in the early 1940s. This was the start of the Sun Dance coming back to the Crow people.
Starting in 1943, Thomas Yellowtail became a dedicated Sun Dancer. He took part in the yearly Sun Dance and monthly prayer meetings. For the next 20 years, Yellowtail grew closer to the Great Spirit. He did this through daily prayer, purification in the sweat lodge, and special times of vision seeking.
A Respected Medicine Man and Sun Dance Chief
In 1963, John Trehero told Yellowtail that his spiritual guides wanted him to pass on the leadership of the Crow Sun Dance. So, for the next 30 years, until he died at age 90, Yellowtail served as the Crow Sun Dance chief. He helped keep the Crow Sun Dance Religion alive. When he passed away in November 1993, Thomas Yellowtail was one of the most respected Sun Dance chiefs and Medicine Men of the Crow tribe.
Keeping the Old Ways Alive
Yellowtail wanted all Native Americans to learn about their ancestors' spiritual traditions. Many traditions had been lost, but Yellowtail believed enough remained. He felt it was enough to create a true spiritual path, which he called the Sun Dance Religion.
Yellowtail advised Native Americans who sought his help. He told them to follow the ways of the Vision Quest, sweat lodge, and daily prayer with the Pipe. He said they should do this under the guidance of a real Sun Dance Chief. He encouraged young Native Americans to learn their tribal language. He also told them to find spiritual leaders who followed their people's traditional ceremonies. Thomas Yellowtail wrote his life story. He did this to save the ancient spiritual traditions he held sacred for future generations.
Thomas Yellowtail was part of a special generation. They had to make a difficult change into a new world. But they never forgot the old ways. He, and many others across the plains tribes, held onto their ancestors' spiritual gifts. They made sure that the ways of their Grandfathers would not be lost.
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