Faculty and students at Little Big Horn College have been compiling Crow place names and the narratives associated with them in an ongoing project that began in 1996. Over five hundred names have been recorded. The majority are within historic Crow Territory but some are as far away as central Alberta, Utah, Oklahoma and Washington, D.C.
You can search the database by entering an Apsáalooke or English place name or by initial letter of Apsáalooke name or by State or Reservation District.
An original allotment name, Long Otter was also known by the name Erection.
Location: Reno district, Montana
English literal translation:Erection's Coulee
English name: “Long Otter Creek”
Daaskenmaáhpe
Prominent red chimney rock on the turn off for Shell, WY.
Location: Wyoming area district, Wyoming
English literal translation:Rock At The Edge
English name: “Chimney Rock”
Dappíish Iilápxe (1)
So named because the famous Crow shaman, Fringe, received one of his visions from water beings at Dragon's Mouth Hot Springs in present-day Yellowstone Park.
Location: Wyoming area district, Wyoming
English literal translation:Fringe's Father
English name: “Yellowstone Geyser Basin”
Dappíish Iilápxe (2)
So named because the famous Crow shaman, Fringe, received one of his visions from water beings at this spot.
Location: Wyoming area district, Wyoming
English literal translation:Fringe's Father
English name: “Thermopolis Hot Springs”
Daxpitcheé Aashe (1)
Location: Other areas in Montana district, Montana
English literal translation:Bear River
English name: “Milk River”
Daxpitcheé Aashe (2)
"Many, Roundup and Wolf Mtns" Interview of Roger Stops by Sarah for PN. TL file 1964.
Location: Hardin to Bozeman district, Montana
English literal translation:Bear River
English name: “? Near Roundup, MT”
Daxpitcheé Aashe (3)
Tributary of East Owl Creek. Also described by RS to Sarah for PN. TL file 1964.
Location: Lodge Grass district, Montana
English literal translation:Bear River
English name: “Bear Creek”
Daxpitcheé Aliisshíio
Named after the use of bear dens located at this cliff by a Crow camp seeking shelter from a severe winter storm.
Location: Hardin to Bozeman district, Montana
English literal translation:Bear Camps
English name: “Rimrocks five miles northeast of Billings, MT”
Daxpitcheeaasáao
Location: Wyoming area district, Wyoming
English literal translation:Home of Bears
English name: “Devils Tower National Monument”
Daxpitcheeaashúua
Ridge between Park City and Columbus, MT.
Location: Hardin to Bozeman district, Montana
English literal translation:Bear's Head
English name: “Shane Ridge”
Daxpitcheealahó
Trail along the top of area at the head of Lost Creek.
Location: Pryor district, Montana
English literal translation:Where There Are Many Bears
Daxpitcheealawáache
Prominent butte on south side of the Missouri River, across from the mouth of the Milk River.
Location: Other areas in Montana district, Montana
English literal translation:Where The Bear Sits Down
English name: “Deadman's Butte”
Daxpitcheeannissúua (1)
Ground made bare and trees mauled by bears, south bank of Lodge Grass Canyon.
Location: Lodge Grass district, Montana
English literal translation:Where Bears Dance
Daxpitcheeannissúua (2)
Shively Creek, north of northern most dirt road crossing. Crows noticed that in early spring, bears danced around a large tree in this area. The tree was clawed and colored with red and yellow ochre that the bears had "thrown out." They scratched the tree to "get power."
Location: Pryor district, Montana
English literal translation:Where Bears Dance
Daxpitcheeannissúua (3)
Area on the west side of Rosebud Creek (near Busby?). There is a pine there toward which the bears are suppose to have danced. The ground around it is smooth and bare, and different kinds of paint with the marks of claws were seen on the tree, also the bear's footprints nearby. The bears in the mountains dance when the berries are ripe.
Location: Other areas in Montana district, Montana
English literal translation:Where Bears Dance
Daxpitcheeannuussúua
Muddy Creek area near the Bighorn Mountains.
Location: Big Horn district, Montana(Muddy Creek, MT.)
English literal translation:Where They Ate Bear
English name: “Muddy Creek”
Daxpitcheechíaawaxaawé
Location: Wyoming area district, Wyoming
English literal translation:White Bear Mountain
English name: “Carter Mountain (S. of Cody)”
Daxpitcheeihté
Location: Hardin to Bozeman district, Montana
English literal translation:Bear's Teeth
English name: “Beartooth Mountains”
Daxpitcheeischikáate
Location: Other areas in Montana district, Montana
English literal translation:Bear's Little Hand
English name: “Bearpaw Mountains”
Daxpitcheemmilihpúua
Bighorn Mountains, MT.
Location: Big Horn district, Montana(Big Horn Mountains, MT.)
English literal translation:Where Bears Swim
English name: “Bear Hole”
Déaxkaashalawaache
Prominent red hill to the east of I-90 near Ranchester, WY. A large one-eyed black snake is said to live there. Flat Dog and Sees The Living Bull fasted there.
Location: Wyoming area district, Wyoming
English literal translation:Where Eagles Sit
Déaxkaashish Isbahée
Named after original allottee
Location: Black Lodge district, Montana
English literal translation:Eagle's Spring
English name: “Upper Two Leggings area”
Déaxkaashitchish Alaxapé
The famous chief Pretty Eagle fasted on this point. His fasting bed and grave are on the top of this point.
Location: Big Horn district, Montana(Bighorn Mountains, MT.)
English literal translation:Where Pretty Eagle Laid Down
English name: “Pretty Eagle Point”
Déaxkaashitchish Annaáksheelitche
Prominent ridge above Yellowtail Dam visitor's center.
Location: Big Horn district, Montana
English literal translation:Where Pretty Eagle Counted Coup
Déeshaashe
"A Crow Indian medicine man held a huge Sun Dance near the headwaters of this river and required the sacramental use of 100 tongues of the buffalo. This was rather an unusually large amount of tongues so thereafter they would refer to this river as Tongue River," JMC 1963, TL file.
Location: unknown district,
English literal translation:Tongue River
English name: “Tongue River”
Déeshaashe Ammatchiia
"Where Tongue River Ends" Roger Stops interviewed by Sarah for PN 1964. TL file.
Location: Other areas in Montana district, Montana
English literal translation:Mouth of Tongue River
English name: “Miles City, MT”
Dúpchikuash Annapiio
Warparty of Crows was camped in a temporary lodge on this site and was surpridsed and killed by a party of Sioux. Sweet Marrow was believed to be in the group, but in fact was with another warparty, but the name stuck.
Location: Wyola district, Montana
English literal translation:Where Sweet Marrow Was Killed
English name: “South Fork of Owl Creek”
Dúupkaatdapiio
Area of original Black Lodge Dance Hall. So named because two Sioux warriors were killed by the Crow warrior Old Tobacco at this spot. The two Sioux were carrying dance bustles (Tail Feathers) for the Hot Dance, and when the Crow received this dance from the Hidatsa, they added these two war trophies (plus two others that had been captured in war). For this reason, the Crow have an additional four "Tail Feathers" in their Hot Dance/Day Time Dance presentations.
Location: Black Lodge district, Montana
English literal translation:Two Were Killed
Dúxxiia Alóochiio
So named because it was a favorite camping spot for warriors on the move.
