Vernon White Man Runs Him

WHITE MAN RUNS HIM - APSAROKE photographed by Edward Curtis (left) and by John Graybill for The Descendants Project (right).

Descendants photo © Curtis Legacy Foundation 2022
Written By: Shawnee Real Bird ©2024 Curtis Legacy Foundation

Vernon White Man Runs Him’s unwavering commitment to his family, culture, and land is truly inspiring. His Crow (Apsáalooke) people affectionately know him as Rides Good Horses, a name bestowed upon him by his grandfather, Yellowtail. The Crow Tribe's deep connection through social ties, guided by a calendar intricately linked to the land, is a testament to Vernon's dedication. From an early age, he has participated in War Dances in the winter and Crow Fair in the summer with his family, instilling in him a profound respect for his heritage. Vernon’s grandfather was White Man Runs Him who was photographed multiple times by Edward Curtis.

Land, culture, and family are at the heart of Vernon's life. Since he was a teenager, Vernon has proudly operated a farm on the Crow Reservation. He fondly remembers driving cattle on horseback to the Big Horn Mountains, where summer pastures created cherished memories during his youth. His uncle, Joe Medicine Crow, a historian for the Crow Tribe, would recount stories of White Man Runs Him and the generations passed through this land. This storytelling establishes a profound connection to the land that transcends Vernon's lifetime.

Aside from managing his family ranch, Vernon has dedicated 20 years of his life to the restoration of buffalo pastures. His efforts have been instrumental in creating buffalo pastures for tribes that historically hunted buffalo but lost their herds after the onset of reservation life. As a representative of the Crow Nation's Buffalo Pastures, Vernon has tirelessly advocated for the return of sacred buffalo to their traditional lands, emphasizing their importance to his people and demonstrating his unwavering commitment to preserving his people's traditions.

Vernon's life is deeply rooted in the oral histories of his people, a connection that he holds dear. As a farmer and rancher, he works alongside his loved ones to create sustainable ways of life for his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. By sharing the oral histories told to him by his elders, he passes down a narrative that connects past and present generations, reinforcing the importance of his cultural heritage in his life.

Today, Vernon honors his cultural heritage through the seeds he plants, the cattle he raises, and the legacy of land he will pass down to his daughters.

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