Crow Indians

The Crow Indians are one group of indigenous people in North America. They currently reside in a reserve that is situated south of Billings, Montana (USA). Their language came from the Hokan-Siouan linguistics, and they call themselves the Absaroka, which means "bird" people. They were primarily a hunting tribe that lived in the valley of the Yellowstone River. They also cultivated tobacco extensively, and they used it for both recreational as well as religious purposes.

The Crow Indians have a very unique social structure. They are essentially a matriarchal tribe, where women play a significant role in the administration of the tribe. In fact, throughout Crow history, there have been quite a few women chiefs.

Tipis are the traditional houses of the Crow Indians. These houses are made of wooden poles and bison skin. A Tipi usually contains a fireplace at the center, with mattresses bordering its inside walls. Even now, several Crow Indian families still live in Tipis.

The Crow Indian women used to wear clothes that were made of mountain sheepskin, with elk teeth attached as embellishments. Additionally, moccasins and leggings were used to cover their legs. Crow women used to wear their hair short. Interestingly, Crow men had long hair, and they were more colorfully dressed than the women. Male clothing included moccasins, leggings with a belt, shirt, and robe.

In 2001, the Crow Indians created a three-branch government called the 2001 Constitution. Presently, the Crow population has crossed over 15,000. The Crow Fair is one of the biggest indigenous Indians fairs, and it draws thousands of people from all corners of the US every year.

Although the Crow Indians have assimilated some of the contemporary American culture and practices, they still continue to honor their native culture and language.