Near Crow Agency, Montana, descendants of historical figures from the Battle of the Little Bighorn maintain personal connections to one of the most studied events in American history. The battle, fought on June 25, 1876, saw the defeat of Lt. Col. George Armstrong Custer and the Seventh Cavalry Regiment by Native American forces led by leaders including Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse. The site continues to be a place of commemoration, reflection, and debate.

Ernie LaPointe, 77, is the great-grandson of Sitting Bull, the Hunkpapa Lakota leader known for his role in resisting U.S. government policies aimed at seizing Native lands. LaPointe was raised cautiously about his heritage and only began publicly acknowledging his lineage in the early 1990s. Since then, he has actively worked to protect Sitting Bull’s legacy and educate others about the Lakota perspective. He has participated in memorial dedications and helped ensure Native American warriors are properly recognized at the battlefield, contributing to the installation of markers and an Indian memorial.

LaPointe, an Army veteran born on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, emphasizes the human qualities of his great-grandfather, highlighting his care not only for his people but even for those who opposed him. LaPointe’s connection to Sitting Bull was confirmed through DNA testing performed by a Danish researcher, which led to widespread media attention and increased outreach from others claiming kinship.

Meanwhile, Chip Custer, 71, is a great-great-grand-nephew of Lt. Col. George Armstrong Custer. He has carried the responsibility of stewarding the controversial legacy of the man often remembered for his leadership in the battle that resulted in his death and that of more than 260 soldiers. Chip Custer has sought to present a more nuanced view of his relative, acknowledging both his military successes during the Civil War and the complex context of 19th-century U.S. policies toward Native Americans.

Chip Custer has occasionally served as a spokesperson for his family’s history, addressing debates over Custer’s actions, character, and the evolving public memory represented by monuments and place names. He acknowledges that Custer bears responsibility for the military decisions leading to the defeat but regrets that his ancestor is primarily remembered for the battle’s tragic end. In 2021, he opposed the removal of a Custer statue in Monroe, Michigan, arguing that Custer recognized the motivations behind Native American resistance to reservation confinement.

The Little Bighorn battlefield itself has undergone significant reinterpretation over the decades. Originally known as Custer Battlefield National Monument, it primarily commemorated the fallen soldiers but often overlooked the Native American perspective. Activists and historians have worked to broaden its narrative to honor Native warriors and address the broader historical context of broken treaties and U.S. expansionism.

Though LaPointe and Chip Custer share an interest in the history of the battle, their personal interactions have been limited and marked by a shared sense of reflection rather than conflict. In a rare conversation around 2007, LaPointe spoke with Chip’s uncle, who expressed respect for Sitting Bull and a desire for healing after the events of the past.

As anniversaries and commemorative events are held near the site of the 1876 battle, the heirs of these historic figures continue to engage with the legacy of a conflict that shaped the course of American history and still resonates deeply with Native communities and descendants of the U.S. military.