Has anyone taken a tour with a native american tour group that they would recommend? I was considering a visit to the Little Big Horn and maybe the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. But, I'd also be interested in reading about any other experiences on battlefields or reservations in the U.S. I've already taken a few native american tours in AZ. Thanks.

I haven't taken a formal tour but a few years ago I was asked by the 3 Indian tribes at Minot N Dakota to provide some Healthcare Consluting.

It was one interesting trip as the NAtive Americans who invited me put me up in their casino ..the only lodging around and took me on tours with them to see the art work, NAtive dress, pow wows, info on NAtive Medicine etc. I have never forgotten how kind and gracious they were...and how muchI learned.

Shannon county of the Pine Ridge reservation is the 1st or 2nd poorest county in the nation. Pine Ridge is the second largest reservation.

Parts of the reservation land are very stark and include some of the Badlands formations. Of late Habitat for Humanity has been active in improving housing during the summer months.

A google search looks like the reservation tours actually start in the Black Hills and start with Crazy Horse monument. The mountain being carved into Crazy Horse's image is very interesting. We've gone on the Crazy Horse volksmarch to just under his chin a few times.

I couldn't find any Pow Wow dates, but several are held over the summer months and a slice of Lakota or Oglala celebration.

FYI, "One Thousand White Women," by Jim Fergus, is an interesting historical novel about the Native Americans in that part of the country. It focuses on several American women of European descent who wind up living with the Cheyenne in the final days of their freedom as a people. Of course, their dealings with the American government and military is part of the story. You might enjoy reading it before your trip.

Thanks for the comments and book recommendation!