LAME DEER, Mont. – On Sept. 23, in conjunction with Native American week, Chief Dull Knife College unveiled a Buffalo Skull at the John Woodenlegs Memorial Library. The piece was created and gifted to the college nearly 50 years ago, by Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell, Northern Cheyenne and internationally acclaimed artist, with the hope that it would inspire young Cheyenne.
The unveiling featured a display of the Buffalo Skull in a new security system to protect the piece of art, a development long in coming. Before this, the Buffalo Skull was displayed in many different locations other than CDLC, which have the capacity for security and curation up to museum standards.
“We are so pleased to bring the Buffalo Skull before the eyes of the Cheyenne people,” said Adrienne Violet, chief librarian at CDKC who was instrumental in raising money for the state-of-the art security and lighting system. “As I learned from personal discussion with the senator, is very important to him.”
CDKC President Eva Flying also attended the unveiling. She said the college conducted extensive research about the Buffalo Skull, which has been appraised at a very high value.
“CDKC is explicitly uniquely and entirely responsible for the Buffalo Skull,” she said. “Now it will be the heart of the John Wooden legs Memorial Library and indeed the entire college. This is the first time I’ve seen it and it is stunning. We at CDCK will ensure the highest standards of museum standards to care for this priceless work of art.”
Dr. Richard Littlebear, former CDKC president for 23 years, was the keynote speaker. During his tenure, he developed a close relationship with Nighthorse Campbell, in part because of their mutual concern for the skull. Shortly before leaving CDKC, in part because of the senator’s concern about what would happen to the Buffalo Skull, Littlebear traveled to Fort Lewis College in Durango to retrieve the piece of art and bring it back to CDKC.
The initial agreement between CDKC and FLC for loan of the skull was for four years, Littlebear said.
