Crow Agency, MT

Apsaalooke Tours officially open its doors for the 2008 summer season on May 25th. 

Little Big Horn College’s Extension Office operates this seasonal tourism business that trains and employs 12 Crow Tribal members annually.  This year a total of 17 Crow Tribal members participated in the two week training offered for credit by Little Big Horn College. Tour guides  are selected from the individuals who successfully complete the initial training or refresher course.

The college obtained a 5 year contract with the National Park Service at Little Big Horn Battlefield to exclusively provide interpretive tours on site. Tours are provided daily from 10 am to 4:00 pm.

Also, Apsaalooke Tours in conjuction with Little Big Horn College staff offers special programs presented by Crow Indian cultural consultants for tour groups visiting Crow Agency. Special tours or programs can include catered Native American cuisine upon request.  Ms. Jackie Yellowtail is the manager for Apsaalooke Tours.

The Crow Tribal Secretary’s Office in the Executive Branch of Crow Tribal government has been entrusted by law to implement the provisions of the act. The first five LLC’s were filed on July 1, 2007. Currently, twenty-nine LLC’s have been organized and registered through the Secretary’s office by Crow Tribal members. So far, one Tribally-controlled company has been organized.

To begin the filing process, applicants (Crow Tribal members or businesses organized under other government entities) can stop by the Crow Tribal Administration building on Bacheeitche Avenue in Crow Agency and obtain a LLC packet. The Crow Tribal Secretary’s Office and the Economic Developement Department are prepared to offer guidance to Crow Tribal members on the registration process and setting up their companies. Also, Little Big Horn College’s Extension Office has a business resource and reference library to assist individuals wishing to develop a business.

The Apsaalooke legislature adopted this Act during its  April 2007  legislative session. Shawn Real Bird, Director of the Crow Tribe’s Economic Development office sought assistance from the Uniform Law Commision and the Federal Reserve.  The act was drafted by the Uniform Law Commission whose membership is comprised of more than 350 lawyers, judges and law professors from across the United States. It took the Commission four years to develop the Model Tribal Secured Transaction Act. This model legislation provides the opportunity for Apsaalooke individuals and entreprenuers to obtain loans using personal property as collateral. This act provides the Apsaalooke people a legal framework to aid economic development on the Crow Indian Reservation.

In the 1990’s, Crow Native Days was founded by Carl Venne as an event to entertain the Crow Youth. He was assigned a project by the Crow Tribe to look for alternatives to combat drug and alcohol abuse by the Crow youth and adults. This is an event that instills pride in the Crow Culture and provides historical value and insight. Events such as the  Men’s and Women”s Ultimate Warrior Challenge, Arrow Throwing tournament, Powwow, Rodeo and Horse Racing, local cusine, arts and crafts, art show, concerts, fireworks show, parade, fun runs and walks, horse shoe tournaments,  provide activities for young and old. This event is a close second to the Annual Crow Fair and Rodeo which is held in August each year.

A flurry of activity occurred around Crow Agency as residents and Crow Tribal Administration began preparations for Crow Native Days which is scheduled for June 24 through June 29, 2008.  Another community clean-up was sponsored by the Office of Environmental Planning and Protection to ensure that the town looked presentable to all of the visitors. In addition, the Crow Agency Chamber of Commerce was refurbished with an arbor and ampitheater for summer presentations and activities. This area will host local artisan Market on Saturday and Sunday of Crow Native Days. 

 A one day workshop was held for entrepreneurs on the Crow reservation on May 2, 2008. The workshop was co-sponsored by the Entrepreneur development program, Mt. State Department of Commerce and the Extension Office at Little Big Horn College. The workshop provided a step by step review of the Finance Tool Kit to assist individuals in development  of a solid and fundable business plan.  Each participant receive a free Finance Tool Kit to take home and use. A total of 20 individuals participated in the workshop.

A workshop for local farmers and land owners was offered on June 13, 2008 at the Student Services Building, Little Big Horn College Campus. A collaborative effort between Agriculture Department at Montana State University-Bozeman and the Extension Office at Little Big Horn College. The workshop provided an overview on the various types of crops that can be grown successfully in South Centeral Montana. Also, the feasibility of developing a biodiesel fuel plant was discussed. As an alternative fuel option, biodiesel barely provides 3 percent of the overall fuel production in the nation. Food for thought???

Dr. Megan Benson, researcher and professor at University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma was the keynote at the Crow Land and history symposium on June 1o, 2008.  She presented her research and findings regarding  the historical fight for Crow Water. In addition,  Dr. Barney Old Coyote, elder and oral historian, presented the social, cultural and economic impact upon the Crow Tribe in the governments decisions regarding Crow water. The format of the symposium allowed for small group discussion with the presenters. Crow Tribal Land owners, college students and youth recieved special intivations to attend. Aproximately 150 people attend this event. The purpose of the symposium is to provide background information that significantly impacts Crow land and use for the Crow land owner.This activity was co-sponsored by the Little Big Horn College Extension Office and the Horizons Project. 

The first quarterly meeting of the 2008 Montana Indian Business Alliance convened in Billings, Montana on January 24, 2008. A cross-section of educators, business people, community members and leaders, organizations, Tribal college staff, state and local departments of  Commerce and Economic Development to explore youth outreach strategies. Four innovative programs that work successfully with youth were called upon to show case their project in a best practices presentations. The Crow Youth Leadership Cadre, Aak Bacheeitchilewioosh, was featured as a best practice project. The Leadership Cadre is a Crow culturally relevant project  that has worked with a cross-age group of Crow students for the past four years. It was determined by the group present at the day long meeting that a standing committee on Youth Entreprenuership be establish and volunteers were solicited. Latonna Old Elk and Sharon Peregoy Horizons Project co-facilitators volunteered for the standing committee. 

Little Big Horn College Extension Office sponsored training for individuals interested in establishing their own business on and near the Crow Indian Reservation. The course was taught by Robyn Vallie, the founder of Itchik Teas, Inc. Classes began on February 14 and ended on May 1, 2008.  All participants who completed the course recieved four college credits, a certificate of completion and an opportunity to submit their business plan to the State Department of Commerce for review in a competitive entreprenuer start-up grant.