News – Sheridan Media
On Thursday, July 17, Macariah Pine shared her Crow culture through traditional regalia. This was the second program at Fort Phil Kearny presented by the Native American Student Interpretive Rangers. A large crowd attended the event, held in the new interpretive center at the fort.
Site Superintendent Sharie Shada introduced Pine.
Pine, who grew up on the Crow reservation in Pryor, Montana, started her presentation by talking about some of her early memories.
She said at the time she enjoyed playing with her cousins and visiting, but looking back now she said she enjoyed remembering how her family all came and created projects together.
Her talk focused on Crow women’s regalia. She first explained about the elk tooth dress.
The elk teeth used were the elk ivories, two small ivory teeth in the back of the elk’s mouth, which are still prized by elk hunters today and are used in rings, necklaces and other jewelry.
A young Crow man could not get married until he could kill enough elk to decorate a dress for his future bride with many of these ivory elk teeth. That would show her family that he was a good hunter and could provide for his family.
A part of the regalia were beaded leggings. Pine made her own leggings when she was very young. Each women’s leggings have designs unique to the women who is wearing them, the designs are carried out in the belt. They are passed down through the generations.
There is a medallion, earrings, and bracelets. There were beaded hair ties for the braids, and Pine added that the women’s hair parted in the middle and braided in two braids, and the woman’s husband braided her hair,
She demonstrated tying on a headband, a choker necklace, and, although not all women wear them, Pine said she adds a colorful scarf and using it in her dance.
Other additions were plumes, usually eagle plumes, which were placed on the back of head. She said the plumes signify the Crow creation story.
Pine also displayed some eagle feather fans that can be carried and used in for ceremonies and special occasions. Fans are often used in smudging ceremonies.
Pine will present a program on the Crow Tipi on Tuesday July 22 at 6 p.m. on the fort lawn.
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Last modified: July 20, 2025