Páeo’hé’e, The Good Hunting Grounds

The Kingsley History Project proudly displays this mural by Northern Cheyenne artist Miah Chalfant Real Bird on its building. The mural honors all those who have stewarded the Powder River Valley (Páeo’hé’e). Long ago, when this land was unceded territory, the Northern Cheyenne hunted rich bison herds and camped along the Powder River. In time, the Cheyenne were forced onto the reservation, and homesteaders from across the world settled in the valley.

The composition is shaped by the style of ledger art. In the background, a Census page pays homage to some of the first families who lived in the area. The bison represent the great herds of wild game that once roamed here, each painted in a color sacred to the Northern Cheyenne, symbolizing the cycles of life. At the center stand two Cheyenne leaders — Chief Little Wolf and Chief Dull Knife — who led their people back to their homelands from imprisonment at Fort Robinson.

Its location in Broadus, Montana at the heart of Powder River Country is a highlight on the Warrior Trail, Montana State Highway 212.