He was first Indian superintendent of his own tribe. In 1934, Yellowtail became the Superintendent of the Crow Indian Reservation, a position he held until 1945.His work on behalf of native rights directly led to American Indians being given the right to vote in 1924.to help write the 1920 “Crow Act”, ensuring that Crow Lands could never be taken without tribal consent. In 1919, Yellowtail returned to Washington D.C.In the following years, Yellowtail’s accomplishments were unprecedented in U.S. Finally in 1917, Yellowtail and the Crow were victorious as the reservation lands were kept under tribal control. Over seven long years Yellowtail countered Walsh’s ferocious attacks. In this battle, Yellowtail’s stubbornness came in quite handy. Crow chief Plenty Coups called on Yellowtail to fight the legal battle against Congress. His arch-rival became Montana senator Thomas Walsh who in 1910 introduced a bill to open up the final 1.8 million acres (down from the original 38 million acres) to homesteaders. Yellowtail was just the right man at exactly the right moment. Yellowtail had decided to make defending the Crow tribe his mission. He would gain a law degree via correspondence courses from the prestigious University of Chicago. He became interested in Indian law and wanted to help his people, which lead him to spend time at the Extension Law School in Los Angeles. Harsh punishments awaited any child who attempted to practice their native culture.Īt age 13, Yellowtail, who was known for both his intelligence and stubbornness was sent to Sherman Institute in Riverside, California where he excelled, graduating in 1907. At the age of four Yellowtail was boarded at a reservation school away from tribal influences.

Even if it had been, there were no more buffalo left to hunt, the reservation was being partitioned by treaty after treaty, practicing traditional religion or the Crow language was not allowed. The traditional way of life was not allowed by the U.S. It was a tragic and difficult time for the Crow people. Robert Summers Yellowtail Sr., was born in Lodge Grass, Montana on August 4, 1889.

Yellow tail