by Jim Kent
Busby, Montana (NFIC)

In the company of buffalo and eagles, members of the Northern Cheyenne Nation and their supporters brought to life the spirits of their ancestors – and traditions that date back in time.

More than 50 runners took part in the 5th Breakout Memorial Run, a grueling 400-mile journey held each year in memory of those Northern Cheyenne killed after escaping from Fort Robinson, Nebraska in January of 1879. “They’re sacrificing their bodies and their minds for the memory of their ancestors and to help heal themselves and their nation,” commented Phillip Whiteman, Jr., the Run’s organizer

The history for the Breakout Run dates back to 1877, when Cheyenne leaders Dull Knife, Little Wolf, Standing Elk and Wild Hog brought their people into Fort Robinson for what they hoped would be safe haven from the impending harsh winter. Dull Knife and Little Wolf thought their signatures on the Fort Laramie Treaty of 1868 would allow them to live with the Lakota on that nation’s nearby reservation.

But they soon found themselves – and their people – being escorted to “Indian Territory,” now Oklahoma, to live with the Southern Cheyenne. Assured that they could return to Nebraska if Oklahoma didn’t suit them, the Cheyenne were held in captivity and under armed guard once they arrived at Fort Reno – hundreds of miles from their natural homeland.

In September of 1878, Dull Knife, Little Wolf and about 300 of their people staged an escape from Fort Reno and led over 15,000 soldiers and white settlers on a chase rivaled only by Chief Joseph and the Nez Perce. The group split up in Nebraska.

Some followed Little Wolf to the home of their ancestors between the Tongue and Powder Rivers in Montana. The rest returned with Dull Knife to Fort Robinson, where they hoped to gain assistance and support from the Lakota leader, Red Cloud. Instead, they found themselves in captivity once more and advised by the Fort’s com-mander that instructions from the War Depart-ment directed him to send the Cheyenne back to Oklahoma. Dull Knife and his people preferred to die rather than return to a land where food was scarce, summers were unbear-able and where so many of their children had died during a measles epidemic.

On January 9, 1879, the Cheyenne overpowered their guards and “broke out” of Fort Robinson, running to the safety of the nearby bluffs. The soldiers gave chase, killing any stragglers who fell behind – including women and children. By the following morning, 65 of Dull Knife’s people were returned to the Fort.

The cavalry hunted down 32 of the remaining 38 Cheyenne who had escaped, catching up to them at the Last Hole – a deep buffalo wallow near Hat Creek Bluffs. There they emptied their rifles, reloaded, and emptied them again and again – until no Cheyenne remained.

Dull Knife and members of his family managed to elude the soldiers and eventually made their way back to the safety of Montana, where Little Wolf and his people had already returned. The bodies of the dead were given to the Smithsonian Institute for research, where they remained in drawers and closets until 1993. They now rest in the ancestral burial ground where Whiteman and his runners finished their 400-mile journey.

As part of the healing for all those who took part in the Run from January 5th through 9th, Northern Cheyenne spiritual advisor Lee Lone Bear performed a traditional “Re-dress” or Call Back ceremony, used for generations to acknowledge those in mourning.

Since many of this year’s runners were direct descendants of those who died in the original “Breakout,” the ceremony was particularly solemn. “Old people who take part in ceremony cry with emotions that come from deep in their hearts,” Lone Bear explained. “The older they are, the deeper their feelings. Some young ones cry, too.”

Many of the runners were 10 to 12 years old. The youngest participant was Phillip Whiteman’s 16-month-old daughter, Florence Lynn Whiteman; the oldest was his 75-yearold father, Phillip, Sr. Eleven-year-old Darek Whitedirt was one of the many middle-graders who took part in the five day journey from Nebraska, through South Dakota’s Black Hills, across Wyoming and into Montana. Whitedirt said he ran because he thought it would be fun to see the Black Hills, but there were other more important reasons.

“I ran for my ancestors and my family,” Whitedirt said. “I wanted to learn more about my culture and how to work together as a team.”

Sixteen-year-old Ron Whiteman, who’s taken part in the Run since it began five years ago, agreed with his young friend.

“I think it’s important to bring back the feeling of our ancestors during the original Run,” commented Whiteman. “We need to remember our ancestors when they were hungry, cold and tired. I think other kids can learn about their culture and about the strength of Native people by taking part in this. Taking part in this Run makes me proud to be Native American.”

Before leaving for Fort Robinson to begin their 400-mile trek, the runners were taken to Medicine Deer Rock, a sacred site on the Northern Cheyenne Reservation. It was in the rolling valley just below this site that Sitting Bull had his vision of Custer’s troopers “falling into” the Lakota, Cheyenne and Arapaho village on the banks of the Little Big Horn.

Prayers were offered, traditional songs were sung and the Great Spirit was asked to protect all those who would be re-creating the journey of their ancestors. Their route took them from Fort Robinson, Nebraska to Hot Springs and Deadwood, South Dakota, then to Hammond, Montana and, finally, to the mass grave cemetery on a hill in Busby where all those killed during the “break out” are buried. Lynette Two Bulls noted that the reception for the runners as they reached the border of the Northern Cheyenne Reservation was overwhelming. She added that it’s important for parents, friends and family members to support all those who take part in the Run, but especially the children.

“We need to let our youth know that we support them,” Two Bulls said. “They need to learn about their history and where they come from – because that’s who they are and they can’t forget it. We can all learn from those experiences and move on. We need to remember what happened and pay tribute to our ancestors, and something like this Run – it puts self-esteem and pride back into our youth. They need to reconnect with who they are and their identity. And this Run does that.” Phillp Whiteman hopes to organize Cheyenne, Lakota and Arapaho runners to take part in a Run from Medicine Deer Rock to the Little Bighorn Battlefield this June to acknowledge the planned Native American memorial at that site. His goal with that Run, as well as the Breakout Run, is to bring healing back to the Northern Cheyenne and to people of all nations.

“The critical crisis that our country is in today, in the world, it can effect all four colors of people,” Whiteman observed. “Things can come right to your doorstep. We need to heal.

And with healing comes responsibility, selfevaluation, learning to respect our bodies and minds and to respect others. That’s what we need. That’s my message.”