All-American Indian Days Exhibit Now Open

The current exhibit at The Museum at the Bighorns features All American Indian Days 1953 – 1984. This is a fascinating collection of personal items and local archives that presents the All American Indian Days events and Miss Indian America Pageant through the decades.

Director Chip King talked about the latest exhibit.

During the 30s and 40s, the Native American’s were not welcome everywhere in Sheridan.

All-American Indian days in Sheridan lasted 30 years and started when a young Crow girl won the title of Sheridan WYO Rodeo Queen in 1951. Although she won the title, there was still a great deal of prejudice against the Indians in Sheridan. One newspaper reporter, with the pen name Neck Yoke Jones, decided to do something to change that.

He was instrumental in starting All-American Indian Days to eradicate prejudice in Indian Country. In 1953, he met with Joe Medicine Crow and another Indian, Don Deernose. Medicine Crow and Deernose traveled throughout the west, inviting Indians show up on Friday of WYO Rodeo week that summer. Possibly as many as 4000 Indians showed up. Deernose also served on the committee for many years.

This exhibit at the museum honors and reflects Wyoming’s contribution to national heritage by presenting Sheridan’s unique history regarding a three-day event held from 1953 – 1984 with Native Americans and non-Natives who worked in cooperation, while sharing leadership with an inter-racial humanitarian project.

All American Indian Days exhibit will run through December 23.