For Ethan One Feather, safety and security at 150th commemoration of Little Bighorn battle is top priority

Today, the battlefield serves as a place of quiet remembrance for those who fought and died. But when the battle’s 150th anniversary draws thousands of people to the site between June 25 and 27 for commemorative activities, Ethan One Feather said he and his security team will be ready for anything..

“We could have runaway horses,” he told Buffalo’s Fire. “Mass overcrowding. There's a term we use called bottlenecking, where a lot of people are funneling through a small point, a gate or something like that.”

One Feather’s full-time job is captain of adult corrections for the Rosebud Sioux Tribe, a position of great responsibility that he gained by rising through the ranks over six years. He said it’s the kind of work that has helped him prepare for his role as head of security at the Little Bighorn event. “You have unruly, combative inmates occasionally, you have to de-escalate, you have to talk them down,” he said. “There's large gang fights, stuff like that. So I've worked with a lot of that type of stress, just being under pressure a lot.”

One Feather said he’ll be meeting with Crow Agency officials to coordinate law enforcement actions in case any are necessary during the event. And he’ll also reach out to correctional facilities in Cheyenne River, Eagle Butte, Pine Ridge and Standing Rock to see if they’ll offer some staff to help provide security.

“Right now, we're shooting to have around 20 to 30 staff per shift,” One Feather said. He’d like to have 24-hour security during the entire event.

Of special interest to him will be recruiting veterans to help. One Feather said he is working with his own tribe, the Rosebud Sioux, and the Oglala Sioux Tribe, to bring in as many vets as possible, “because they have a lot of experience, they have a lot of training, and a lot of organizational skills that I can really utilize in this operation.”

One Feather said besides arranging arrest authority with Crow Agency, he’s also going to make sure his security team is adept at using tasers and handcuffs and ready to perform CPR in a medical emergency.

As Montana is an open carry state, One Feather is looking into that privilege for the veterans as well. But guns will be prohibited from the planned tipi encampment, as well as drugs and alcohol, One Feather said.

“What I'm thinking we're going to be dealing with is the occasional intoxicated person or anyone that's carrying a weapon or trying to bring a weapon into the encampment area or around it,” he said, explaining that these are the kinds of incidents that security deals with at the annual Rosebud Fair. “And our remedies for that were strictly [to] remove the weapon if safe. If not, then we'll have to call the local PD and have them assist us in removing this individual or possibly taking them to our jail or facility. It’s the last thing we want to do.”

One Feather had never been to the Little Bighorn site until this year, when he went out to scout the area. “I kind of learned about it growing up from my grandmother and people talking about it,” he said. “I didn't really take an interest to it too much, but as I got older, I wanted to know more about my heritage and where I came from and our history.”

One Feather invites people who are able and willing to help keep visitors safe during the three-day event to reach out to him. He’s seeking 10 security volunteers from tribal programs and plans to provide training in security procedures, crowd control, First Aid and CPR.

One Feather said he’s excited to get out into the crowd and interact with fellow Natives: “Try to help show them that law enforcement and corrections aren't always the bad guys.”

Additional safety and security will be handled by National Park Service staff.

Spokesperson Naaman Horn told Buffalo’s Fire in an email that the park service will keep off-site parking areas and the shuttle system to and from the Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument operating efficiently, as no private vehicles are allowed.

“We are also preparing for summer heat, possible medical needs and maintaining access for emergency responders,” wrote Horn. “Protecting the site’s cultural and natural resources is also a priority so the event remains respectful and meaningful for everyone.”

Horn added that all visitors should plan ahead and expect large crowds: “Bringing water is encouraged, and refill stations will be available throughout the park.”

There will be no food service on-site, so visitors should also bring their own food. Horn also said following directions from National Park staff and law enforcement will keep lines and movement efficient. “Most of all, we encourage visitors to recognize the significance of the site and approach the event with respect for the history and the communities connected to it.”