Sign of the times on Interstate 90
Travelers welcomed to “Crow Country”
By Michael Dillin
Big Horn County News
For the millions of travelers who pass through Big Horn County each year, they’ll now be reminded they are passing through “Crow Country.”
An artistic red, blue and yellow sign was unveiled on Friday with the words “Welcome To Crow Country” just below the emblem of the Crow Tribe.
“It’s a way of saying welcome to our country, Crow Country,” said Crow Tribal officer Darren Old Coyote upon its unveiling in the eastbound lanes on I-90 in between the two Hardin exits.
The U.S. and Montana Departments of Transportation set aside interstate policy of allowing only green and white interstate signs to pave the way for the new look.
Photo by Michael Dillin
After a brief tug of war between the wind and the blue canvass drapery, a new sign was unveiled Friday on Interstate 90 with the words “Welcome to Crow Country.”
“At first they said we could not put up the sign, because it was not in green and white,” said Old Coyote. “But we showed them their own sign when you enter Montana from Wyoming, and their ‘Welcome to Montana’ was in blue, red and yellow as well, so they let us do it.”
Old Coyote said the bureaucratic green and white sign that reads “Entering Crow Reservation” might have made some travelers nervous.
“We didn’t want them to think they were entering the twilight zone,” Old Coyote joked. “We wanted to let people know they are welcome.”
Chairman of the Crow Tribe Carl Venne echoed that sentiment:
“It might have scared some people in thinking we’re different,” Venne said. “We’re not different, we’re all human beings who believe in God.
“We’ve long been striving for good relationships (among) the county, the state and the Crow Tribe. It’s called building bridges, not burning them down between our communities.”
The sign’s unveiling was attended by about 75 people as one lane of the interstate was shut down for the ceremony. The only hitch? When a trio of officials pulled the ropes from the canvass draped over the sign for its unveiling, the draping would not come off. After about three minutes, a truck was pulled along side the sign and a maintenance worker helped remove the blue draping.
“In our prayers we ask for days like this for our people,” said Scott Whistle, secretary of the Crow Tribe. “People drive this highway from all over. We pray that people who drive through here have safe passage.”
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