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Year of the American Indian

The Year of the American Indian exhibit explores the rich history of the Indian Village at Cheyenne Frontier Days™ and the people who helped make it one of the celebration’s most meaningful traditions. Through artifacts, photographs, and stories, the exhibit highlights the lasting impact of four Cheyenne Frontier Days™ Hall of Fame honorees whose leadership, dedication, and cultural knowledge helped preserve and share American Indian traditions with generations of visitors.

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For more than a century, the Indian Village has offered guests a place to experience the traditions, artistry, and stories of American Indian cultures. Away from the excitement of the rodeo arena and midway, visitors have gathered to listen to the beat of the drum, watch dancers in vibrant regalia, meet artists and families, and learn from those who share their history and traditions.

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The story of the Indian Village is one of preservation, partnership, resilience, and cultural exchange. As Cheyenne Frontier Days™ recognizes 2026 as the Year of the American Indian, this exhibit celebrates the individuals who helped shape this enduring tradition and honors the American Indian voices that continue to bring the Indian Village to life today.

An Earlier Beginning

For many years, historians believed American Indian participation at Cheyenne Frontier Days™ began in 1898. Recent research, however, has revealed that it actually started a year earlier.

When the first Cheyenne Frontier Day was held in September 1897, the Frontier Committee set out to create a celebration that reflected every aspect of life in the American West. Inspired by the tremendous popularity of Buffalo Bill Cody’s Wild West Show, organizers believed an authentic portrayal of the frontier had to include everyone who shaped it; cowboys, soldiers, ranchers, railroad workers, pioneers, and American Indian peoples.

To make that vision a reality, the committee turned to Charles White Hawk, a Sioux Army scout stationed at Fort D.A. Russell. White Hawk had become an important connection between Cheyenne and the reservations of South Dakota, where he welcomed American Indian travelers passing through the city by rail. Asked if he could recruit participants for the new celebration, he convinced ten Sioux men and women to come to Cheyenne for the inaugural Frontier Day.

This marked the first known American Indian participation in Cheyenne Frontier Days™. White Hawk became the first American Indian liaison in Frontier Days history, establishing relationships that would continue for generations.

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Princess Blue Waters

Rose Powell Nelson Ecoffey, also known as Princess Blue Waters, was born in 1880 to scout John Y. Nelson and Jenny Lone Wolf of the Red Cloud family. Named by Buffalo Bill Cody, she became an interpreter, performer, and longtime representative of the Oglala Lakota at Cheyenne Frontier Days™. Beginning in the late 1930s, she and her troupe entertained audiences at the Indian Village, parades, and arena performances for more than 40 years.

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Calvin Jumping Bull

Great-grandson of the famed Hunkpapa leader Sitting Bull, Calvin Jumping Bull performed at Cheyenne Frontier Days™ for more than 41 years. A Lakota Men’s Omaha Dancer from 1963–1979, he later led the Lakota dance troupe, improving performances, participant conditions, and public presentation. He received the CFD Silver Appreciation Badge in 1965 and was named a 100th Anniversary Parade Marshal.

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Billy Evans Hunting Horse

Billy Evans Hunting Horse and the Southern Plains Intertribal Indian Dance Group played a major role in shaping the modern Indian Village at Cheyenne Frontier Days™. Beginning in 1980, Hunting Horse helped expand the Village while preserving its authenticity and cultural pride. Under his leadership, the group brought professional dancers, musicians, PowWows, storytelling, and cultural programming that greatly increased attendance and strengthened Native American representation at CFD.

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