Video: 'Barack Black Eagle' Vows to Honor Treaties, Brings Spotlight to Crow Country

CrowNews.Net

In case you missed the rally in Crow Agency or you were there and just want to see video footage from the event, the video above -- posted to YouTube by the Obama campaign -- includes excerpts of Obama's speech and people in the crowd.

The New York Times also has footage of a laughter-filled moment during the event when Obama attempted to say "Absaalooke" several times before getting the pronunciation right. (Click here to go to the Times' website and watch the video).

"I'm sorry, you know I'm still working on it," he said. "I was just adopted into the tribe so I'm still working on my pronunciations."

The crowd cheered. Obama was adopted in a private ceremony by Hartford Black Eagle Sr. and his wife Mary just before the rally.

"I like my new name 'Barack Black Eagle,'" he said. "That is a good name."

The Indian name given to Obama is "Awe Kooda Bilaxpak Kuuxshish" (One Who Helps People Throughout The Land).

The rally, precluded by powwow singing and Crow traditional dancing, was distinct from those the campaign often holds in college and professional sports arena that seat upwards of 8,000 people. NY Times political reporter Jeff Zeleny had this to stay about the rally in Crow Country in a post on "The Caucus," a political blog on the newspaper's website:

As the Democratic presidential campaign has moved from season to season over the last 16 months, the political rallies and the town meetings often have taken on a similar feeling and a familiar flavor.

Not so today, here on the Crow Indian Reservation.

A number of media outlets from The Washington Post to the Los Angeles Times covered Monday's rally in Crow. Here are some more links to stories on other websites:

• The Washington Post has a short blog post with a photo of "Barack Black Eagle" being escorted by his new adopted parents, Hartford and Mary Black Eagle. The candidate is also shaking a young supporter's hand.

• And the Los Angeles Times' Andrew Malcolm offers a fun read with a piece on the moment when Chairman Carl Venne explained to Obama the tribal officials wives had gifts for Obama's "wives." When the senator took the microphone, he corrected Venne with an air of humor, saying he only has one wife. "I don't want to get in trouble when I get home," Obama said. "I can have new parents, but no new wives... My wife is spectacular, she really is."

• Closer to home, the Billings Gazette's Becky Shay and Molly Priddy have a pair of articles about the Crow Agency rally.

Enjoy.