Honoring the Legacy of All-American Indian Days – Part 2.

At the recent event at the Museum at the Bighorns honoring the former Miss Indian America winners, Isabella Yellowtail reflected on her year as WYO Rodeo Queen and the Absaloka WYO Rodeo Queen who came before her. She shared what growing up Crow means to her and how it influenced her life on the ranch and in the classroom.

She told several family stories; one was about her grandfather and her father on a hunting trip. Her grandfather gave his son a gun and one bullet. That one bullet was a lesson.

“He said that in this life, we only get one shot at most things, so you better make that shot count.” He passed the lesson on to me. She talked about her background as a Crow Indian, and her ancestors.

She talked about graduating from Tongue River High School, and the lessons she learned there.

An important part of her life and being rodeo queen was her horse, Cricket, who she said has a big personality. She added if she was leading him and walking too slow, he would nudge her as if to say, ‘hurry up.’

Yellowtail said that the lessons she learned as being rodeo queen would stay with her the rest of her life, and as she wore the crown, she began to think about who had worn it before her.

She added that Lucy Yellowmule’s story went far beyond the arena.

After the program, Yellowtail was presented with a $1000 scholarship to help her continue her education.