Crow Tribe Emblem and Flag

As it is the way of the Apsáalooke , the Crow Tribal Emblem and Flag have deep meaning and history. In 1967, during the Edison Real Bird Administration the Crow Cultural Commission, chaired by Henry Old Coyote, began a plan to design the Crow Tribal emblem and flag. Lloyd Mickey Old Coyote voluntarily assumed the responsibility and task of compiling the information and developing a plan on the design of the Crow Tribal Emblem and Flag. Mickey presented the plan along with the graphic illustration designed by Lawrence Big Hair to the Cultural Committee for approval. From here, the emblem and the flag came to reality.

The Flag is trimmed in gold. This is because the Seven Sacred Rams revealed spiritually powerful knowledge to a young boy. He was named by the Sacred Rams' Chief after himself. His name was Big Metal. The Seven Rams, whose horns and hooves were shining with gold, named the Big Horn Mountains and the Big Big Horn and Little Big Horn Rivers. They instructed the Apsáalooke never to change those names and the Apsáalooke would always remain as a people and prosper.

The Flag background is blue. The belief it represents states when the sky and the waters are clear everything between them is good and peaceful.

The Emblem on the Flag is encircled. This represents the Path of All Things. This Path is clock-wise as is the Path of the Sun from the northern vantage point.

There is the Sun and its Rays. These represent the Clans of the Apsáalooke . They were named by Old Man Coyote and he said the Greasy Mouth Clan is his clan and the Sun is of their Sacred Power. The Sun represents them. The Rays of the Sun represent all of the other Clans.

The two rivers depicted are the Big Big Horn and the Little Big Horn Rivers. They are sacred to the Apsáalooke as they were named by the Seven Sacred Rams.

There is a Tipi on the emblem and it is white. This is from the Whit Tipi given to Yellow Leggins by White Owl in the Spiritual gifting of the tipi to the Apsáalooke . White Owl told Yellow Leggins the tipi is white because represents purity and good. Nothing evil or bad comes to the home when the tipi is white. The tipi has the foundation structure of the Four Base Poles. They represent the never ending Cycle of the Seasons. The tipi has the two Ventilator Flap Poles. They represent the Spirit of the Coyote on the right, facing eastward, and the Spirit of the Owl on the left. They are the Sentries that watch over the home-the Coyote by the day and the Own at night.

Later, a Spiritual Being appeared to the Biiluukee wearing a robe that was fastened together with the "sharp" eagle wings. He gave this to secure the home and with it came good fortune.

The tipi is anchored by stakes imbedded into the ground. These were the Spiritual Gifts from the Badger on the Ground who said the stakes have the strength of his claws when they are imbedded in the ground. Then, no force on Earth can move him from his home. He gave this to the Apsáalooke .

The tipi is set on Mother Earth which is our Third Mother to which we will eventually return after our time upon Her.

The Tipi is flanked by the two War Bonnets. One represents the Clan to which we belong. The other represents the Clan of out Fathers. In both Clans, there are Chiefs.

The Clan of our Fathers is one of the four major beliefs of the Apsáalooke that we revere. The other three are also depicted on the Emblem.

The closest to the Tipi is the Sweat Lodge, a gift from the Creator since the genesis of the Apsáalooke .

Next to the Sweat Lodge is the Sacred Tobacco Bundle. This is the defining and foundation religion of the Apsáalooke as it was the Gift from the Creator to No Intestines at the culmination of his Spiritual Vision in which he was told to come to this land, the present day home of the Apsáalooke .

 And at the bottom is the English signifier of the Apsáalooke Nation, CROW TRIBE.