Peace pipe goes to Indian Museum

The Associated Press

CRAZY HORSE, S.D. -- A peace prayer pipe that belonged to a survivor of both the 1876 Battle of the Little Big Horn and the 1890 Wounded Knee massacre has been presented to the Indian Museum of North America at Crazy Horse Memorial.

Dewey Beard, a Lakota elder, was a boy when warriors under Crazy Horse defeated Custer's 7th Cavalry at Little Big Horn. Beard belonged to Big Foot's band of Minniconjou Lakota.

Beard suffered two wounds, and seven members of his family were among hundreds of American Indians killed by the 7th Cavalry at Wounded Knee in 1890.

One of Beard's friends, Bob Lee of Sturgis, presented the pipe to the +museum+. He is a retired newspaper editor, historian and author.

He received the pipe from Beard's family after his funeral in 1955.

Lee displayed the pipe in his home for years but decided to give it to the museum as he downsized his holdings.