06/25/2026
The Battle of Greasy Grass (Little Bighorn) began on June 25, 1876, in modern-day southern Montana where a coalition of Lakota Sioux, Northern Cheyenne, and Arapaho thwarted an attack by the US Army’s 7th Cavalry. The battle was part of the Great Sioux War of 1876 which began after the discovery of gold in the sacred Black Hills and subsequent settler and US military incursions onto Indigenous land. The battle involved upwards of 2,500 Indigenous Plains Indians, including legendary leader Sitting Bull (Hunkpapa Lakota), against an estimated 600 US cavalry men and supporting troops. The engagement spanned two days resulting in approximately 250 Indigenous casualties and more than 300 killed or wounded from the 7th Cavalry including their commander George A. Custer. In retaliation, the US military commenced an overwhelming campaign to end the conflict and restrict Indigenous sovereignty by targeting Native Americans who refused to be contained to federally managed reservations. Today the Lakota and other Plains Indian nations celebrate “Victory Day” to commemorate the victory at Greasy Grass and honor their ancestors who fought to protect their people and homeland.
Pictured is “Cigar store Custer 2” linocut print (2026) by artist Tom Farris (Otoe-Missouria-Cherokee), from the Educational Foundation of USCL- Norton Collection.
