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.
Aashawua
- North end of Medicine Bow Range near Riverside, WY.
- Location: Wyoming area district, Wyoming
- English literal translation: (Round) Valley (Mountain)
- English name: “Platte Ridge”
Aashbikkaashée
- Location: Wyoming area district, Wyoming
- English literal translation: Grass Lodge (Shoshone) River
- English name: “Shoshone River”
Aashcheetbacheeitche
- A tributary of the Platte River, WY.
- Location: Wyoming area district, Wyoming
- English literal translation: Wolf Chief River
Aashchixxuá
- Creek in Yellowstone N.P.
- Location: Wyoming area district, Wyoming
- English literal translation: River That Laps Over Itself
- English name: “Hell Roaring Creek”
Aashilitshia
- Location: Wyoming area district, Wyoming
- English literal translation: Stinking River
- English name: “Shoshone River”
Aashkaatiisahchaxuuwe
- South fork of the Shoshone River, WY.
- Location: Wyoming area district, Wyoming
- English literal translation: Sage Creek
- English name: “Sage Creek”
Aashkuale
- This term is also used to for Sheridan, WY, since the river flows through this town.
- Location: Wyoming area district, Wyoming
- English literal translation: Middle River
- English name: “Goose River”
Ammitaalashé
- Original name of the Kicked in the Belly band since they resided in this area, it was the western edge of historic Crow Country.
- Location: Wyoming area district, Wyoming
- English literal translation: Home At The Edge
- English name: “Lander area”
Annáshisee (1)
- The most famous of the medicine wheels, located on Medicine Mountain in the Bighorn Mountains.
- Location: Wyoming area district, Wyoming
- English literal translation: Large Campsite
- English name: “Bighorn Medicine Wheel”
Apítalawaache
- Prominent point separate from the Bighorns, between Dayton and Parkman, WY.
- Location: Wyoming area district, Wyoming
- English literal translation: Where The Cranes Sit
- English name: “Columbus Peak”
Apítshiilish Isawé
- Named after the use of the area by the leader Yellow Crane and his followers.
- Location: Wyoming area district, Wyoming
- English literal translation: Yellow Crane's Land
- English name: “Sunlight Basin”
Ashkaatashe
- Location: Wyoming area district, Wyoming
- English literal translation: Tipi Creek
- English name: “Little Tipi Creek”
Attalaho
- Location: Wyoming area district, Wyoming
- English literal translation: Where There Are Many Pinicales
- English name: “Gillette, WY area”
Awé Púawishe
- Location: Wyoming area district, Wyoming
- English literal translation: Land Of Steam
- English name: “Yellowstone Geyser Basin area”
Awaasúuachiikaxiia
- The original bar in Parkman had a roof that had onside longer then the other (DOH).
- Location: Wyoming area district, Wyoming
- English literal translation: House That Leans
- English name: “Parkman, WY”
Awaxaammaalahkápe
- Mountain west of Cody, WY.
- Location: Wyoming area district, Wyoming
- English literal translation: Cedar (Smudge) Mountain
- English name: “Cedar Mountain”
Awaxaammaaxpée
- The mountain that has the Bighorn medicine wheel on it. Big Horn Mountains, WY
- Location: Wyoming area district, Wyoming
- English literal translation: Holy Mountain
- English name: “Medicine Mountain”
Awaxaamnaasé
- Mountain northeast of Cody, WY.
- Location: Wyoming area district, Wyoming
- English literal translation: Heart Mountain
- English name: “Heart Mountain”
Awaxaawakússawishe
- Location: Wyoming area district, Wyoming
- English literal translation: Extended Mountain
- English name: “Cloud Peak, Big Horn Mountains, WY”
Awaxaawammáakoo(2)
- Location: Wyoming area district, Wyoming
- English literal translation: High Mountain
- English name: “Bald Mountain”
Awaxaawisée
- Location: Wyoming area district, Wyoming
- English literal translation: Big Mountain
- English name: “Big Pryor Mountain”
Awaxahátchke
- Location: Wyoming area district, Wyoming
- English literal translation: Long Mountain
- English name: “Crest of the Big Horn Mountains”
Báachiiaashe
- Location: Wyoming area district, Wyoming
- English literal translation: Pine River
- English name: “Buffalo”
Báachiiaashe Koón Bilichkéesh
- Location: Wyoming area district, Wyoming
- English literal translation: Lake at Pine River
- English name: “Lake DeSmet”
Báachiiaashkaate
- Location: Wyoming area district, Wyoming
- English literal translation: Big Pine Creek
- English name: “Big Piney Creek”
Báachiiaashkaate Aliakáate
- Location: Wyoming area district, Wyoming
- English literal translation: Where Big Pine Creek Is Small
- English name: “Little Big Piney Creek Canyon”
Báhkisee
- Named after an extraordinarily large cottonwood that stood on the Platte River. Ten men with outstretched arms could reach around the trunk of the tree.
- Location: Wyoming area district, Wyoming
- English literal translation: Big Cottonwood
- English name: “Fort Laramie”
Baáhpaluupkaate (1)
- Prominent buttes near Devils Tower NM, WY.
- Location: Wyoming area district, Wyoming
- English literal translation: Two Buttes
- English name: “Little Missouri Buttes”
Baaishtashíilinkuluush Alaxapé
- Whiteman Runs Him fasted on this mountain.
- Location: Wyoming area district, Wyoming
- English literal translation: Where Whiteman Runs Him Laid Down
- English name: “Sheep Mountain”
Baapúxtaashkaate
- Location: Wyoming area district, Wyoming
- English literal translation: Otter Creek
- English name: “Badger Creek of the Tongue River”
Bachee Ammishiipuua
- A warparty where covered with snow and some froze to death. In the spring the survivors returned and found the dead. Scott says the creek is called "Froze To Death Creek."
- Location: Wyoming area district, Wyoming
- English literal translation: Where Men Were Covered With Snow
- English name: “Wyoming Powder River area”
Bacheeitchalashee
- The area near Meteetse where the Principal Leader Sits In The Middle Of The Land died in 1874. Sometimes called Bacheeitchalawaache/Where The Chief Sits. The "chief" phoneme (bacheeitche) of this word has suggested to some the origin of the English name Meteetse.
- Location: Other areas in the United States district, Wyoming
- English literal translation: Where The Chief Died
- English name: “Meteetse”
Baleaxxiiláashe
- Location: Wyoming area district, Wyoming
- English literal translation: Conch Shell River
- English name: “North Platte River”
Biawaaláaxe
- One time the Crows were camped here and a groupbunch of soldiers came and they camped nearby. Some of the Crow women would go to the soldiers’ camp and shack-up, make a little extra money or gifts or whatever they can. So they call those girls crazy, crazy women. So they call that Crazy Woman Creek—Biawaaláaxe Aashe, after that.
- Location: Wyoming area district, Wyoming
- English literal translation: Crazy Woman Creek
- English name: “Crazy Woman Creek”
Bilíaliche
- The Shoshone pass as it passes between Cedar and Rattlesnake Mountains
- Location: Wyoming area district, Wyoming
- English literal translation: Like A Tipi Door
- English name: “Shoshone Pass”
Bilichké
- Location: Wyoming area district, Wyoming
- English literal translation: (Small) Lake
- English name: “Lake DeSmet”
Bilichké (1)
- Location: Wyoming area district, Wyoming
- English literal translation: Lake
- English name: “Yellowstone Lake”
Bilippúa
- Location: Wyoming area district, Wyoming
- English literal translation: Spoiled Water
- English name: “Thermopolis hot springs”
Bilixachiíkuse
- Location: Wyoming area district, Wyoming
- English literal translation: Water Moves The Other Way
- English name: “Snake River”
Chíilapalawaache
- Location: Wyoming area district, Wyoming
- English literal translation: Where The Ram Sits
- English name: “Sheep Mountain”
Chihpaashe
- Location: Wyoming area district, Wyoming
- English literal translation: Prairie Dog River
- English name: “Prairie Dog Creek (Peno Creek)”
Chiichkesáaaashe
- Location: Wyoming area district, Wyoming
- English literal translation: Sage Hen River
- English name: “Green River”
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
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”
Daxpitcheeaasáao
- Location: Wyoming area district, Wyoming
- English literal translation: Home of Bears
- English name: “Devils Tower National Monument”
Daxpitcheechíaawaxaawé
- Location: Wyoming area district, Wyoming
- English literal translation: White Bear Mountain
- English name: “Carter Mountain (S. of Cody)”
Háchkawushe
- Location: Wyoming area district, Wyoming
- English literal translation: Long Opening In The Ground
- English name: “Fire Hole River”
Hucháashe
- Hutshilia' Aashe/Wind Shrill (Hissing/Chinook) River. JMC 1963, TL file.
- Location: Wyoming area district, Wyoming
- English literal translation: Wind River
- English name: “Wind River”
Ichxéexaxxiash Annappiio
- In 1820 or 1822, Hanging Feet's camp was attacked by the Cheyenne and nearly wiped out. Survivors were captured and tortured or integrated into the tribe. At least one boy escaped and induced Sore Belly to lead a revenge raid the next year (SEE Bernardis 37-38; Plenty Coups 210; Fighting Cheyenne 26-32; Collier 48; Cheyenne Memories 130-132; Denig 172-182). PC "Passed the snow covered Mountains (in WY on train to DC) and travelled through still some other mountains. Old Crow said, 'This is the place where Hangs His Feet was killed.'" Grinnell says in Powder River basin; Denig says at headwaters of the Cheyenne River; George Bent says at mouth of Horse Creek, on the North Platte.Old Crow's description would appear to match more closely with Bent.
- Location: Wyoming area district, Wyoming
- English literal translation: Where Hanging Feet Was Killed
- English name: “area north of Cheyenne, WY”
Ihkapíliish Iilapxe
- Location: Wyoming area district, Wyoming
- English literal translation: Foretop's Father
- English name: “Heart Mountain”
Iichíilalashee
- A battle site where the Crow and Sioux fought. The Crows used their horses as a barricade after the horse where killed in the crossfire. The superior Sioux force after three days of fighting. All the Crows survived uninjured.
- Location: Other areas in the United States district, Wyoming
- English literal translation: Where The Horses Died
- English name: “spring near Absarokee”
Iichíilikaashaashe Alachiliche
- Alachiliche means the source of a river.
- Location: Wyoming area district, Wyoming
- English literal translation: Where Elk River Begins
- English name: “Yellowstone Lake”
Iichiilixaxxish Anmaawulua
- A cairn marks where Spotted Horse whipped his younger brother in anger. This act brought him disgrace and a loss of status. Spotted Horse Creek is a tributary of the Powder River.
- Location: Wyoming area district, Wyoming
- English literal translation: Where Spotted Horse Fought
- English name: “Spotted Horse Creek”
Iisaxpúatahcheealawaache
- Location: Wyoming area district, Wyoming
- English literal translation: Where The Bighorn Sits
- English name: “Sheep Mountain in the Bighorn Mountains”
Iisbíialawache
- Location: Wyoming area district, Wyoming
- English literal translation: Where The Mountain Lion Sits
- English name: “Grey Bull River”
Káalisisshe
- Broken country in the southern part of the Shoshone National Forest, WY.
- Location: Wyoming area district, Wyoming
- English literal translation: Old Woman's Bag
Páatchish Awaxaawé
- Prominent point in the McCullough Peaks, east of Cody WY, on ALT 14. So named because of the warrior Push fasting on this mountain.
- Location: Wyoming area district, Wyoming
- English literal translation: Push's Mountain
Peelatchákeesh Annahéeo
- Foot Hills south of Story, WY where the first Sacred Tobacco Seeds were located. A warparty of Cheyennes was trapped on a hill in this area. One member of the party would occassionally come out to the edge of the hill and flap his arms, like a raven, in defiance of the Crow below. Eventually a Crow made medicine and killed the "Raven Owner" (SEE also Fighting Cheyenne 25-26; Cheyenne Memories 128-130). Cheyennes revenaged this loss with the annihilation of Hanging Feet's camp (SEE Where Hanging Feet Was Killed).
- Location: Wyoming area district, Wyoming
- English literal translation: Where Raven Owner Was Attacked
- English name: “Story”
Pilake Iháwuua
- Location: Wyoming area district, Wyoming
- English literal translation: They Sleep Ten (Nights)
- English name: “Ten Sleep”
Poppootcháashe
- Named after the sound the river makes as it passes through a sinkhole.
- Location: Wyoming area district, Wyoming
- English literal translation: Plopping River
- English name: “Popo Agie River”
Shithísshe (1)
- Location: Other areas in the United States district, Wyoming
- English literal translation: Red Hills
- English name: “Red Hills, Shoshone National Forest, WY”
Shithísshe (2)
- Prominent hills on the south end of the Wolf Mountains, 10 miles north of Ranchester, WY. Area known for sacred snakes.
- Location: Wyoming area district, Wyoming
- English literal translation: Red Hills
- English name: “south end of Wolf Mountains”
Tasshé Aashe
- Location: Wyoming area district, Wyoming
- English literal translation: Grease River
- English name: “South Platte River”