Tommy Round Face

Tommy “Eddie” Round Face 59 passed on to the other side camp April 10, 2012 with his family by his side. He was born on March 30, 1953 in Pryor, MT to Hannah Round Face and Peter George Old Crane, but was adopted and raised by his grandparents Edward and Matilda Round Face. He belonged to the Greasy Mouth Clan and a child of the Piegan Clan. Eddie received his Indian name “Ishtaxxiwilaash” or “Gun that has Fire” from Edward Posey Whiteman Sr., inspired when Posey was in World War II. Eddie was a very spiritual-oriented person, a member of the Native American Church, participated in the Crow sweat lodge, and sundance ceremonies. He was also a member of the St. Charles Catholic Parish. Grade school he attended St. Charles Mission School. He went to Edgar High school where he played football and basketball. At age 17 He joined the U.S. Navy and acquired his GED. He had convinced his mother to sign a paper saying it was for football when it was actually for the Navy. 1971 to 1974, he served in Vietnam where he was awarded the Bronze Star. After service Eddie attended Northern Montana College in Havre, MT. and EMC (MSU-B) at Billings, MT. where he played football. He was especially proud of playing college football at EMC. Eddie received his paralegal certification in California. He married Anita La Rance and later divorced, they have three children, Valenna, Michael, and Marita. He also married Ingela Sjogren and from this union he had two children, Carolinne and Alicia who reside in Sweden. He lived at home with his daughters Valenna and Marita and grandchildren he was raising Chaz Tushka and Michael Angel Velasquez. He also raised Milton Round Face, and the late Dee Jay Round Face. At the young age of 24, Eddie aka Judge Round Face sat on the bench as chief judge of the Crow Tribe. Using the foundation of law provided by the treaties, Eddie made one of the most important decisions that any Judge in Indian Country had made. He was asserting the civil jurisdiction of the Crow Tribe to non-tribal members, this case was the Sage vs. the National Farmers Union Insurance Company and Lodge Grass School District of Montana. This case eventually was decided in the Supreme Court, who ruled in favor of Judge Round Face decision, that the Crow Tribe had civil jurisdiction to decide cases involving non-tribal members within the exterior boundaries of the Crow Indian reservation. This case was one of the greatest legal victories for Native American Indians in the United States. He was also a Crow Tribal advisor to chairman Richard Real Bird and also the late chairman Carl Venne Sr. He was also a Pryor District advisor for many years. Eddie worked with Vision Quest in 1990's. His work involved counseling the children that were referred to Vision Quest by the courts for rehabilitation. On top of duties as a counselor he was also the mule skinner, he was a teamster on the wagons. This job was located in the desert outside of Tucson, Arizona. In 1992, Eddie supported Russell Means and AIM(American Indian Movement) in protest of the Columbus Day Parade in Denver, Colorado, for the 500 year anniversary of the Discovery of America. This protest was an attempt to bring to light the facts of Columbus's legacy in North America, primarily the genocide of Native Americans after the arrival of Columbus. Eddie, along with Kennard, Henry, Jimmy, Shawn, Lanny, Tim, and Floyd Real Bird traveled to Denver in support of AIM's effort to stop the Parade, in which they were successful. This protest united all the minorities in Denver. Eddie was a staunch believer in the sovereign status of the Crow Nation. His beliefs were based on the treaties of Fort Laramie in particular the Treaty of 1868, in which the Crow Tribe retained the right to self government. The United States of America acknowledged the sovereignty of the Crow Tribe through the Treaty of 1868. Eddie worked as a horse groom for race horse trainer Greg Tracy at race tracks throughout Montana. Later, he owned his own race horse called 'Quaking Aspen', who ran at tracks in Wyoming and Montana. Every summer he looked forward to being the Assistant Director to Henry Real Bird at the annual Real Bird Re-enactment of the Battle of the Little Big Horn for many years. He was made the model for the statue 'Mystic Warrior' located at the Crow Veteran Commemorative Park in Crow Agency, Montana. Eddie enjoyed playing handgames and was Champion Head Guesser for the Wyola District in 1986. He was especially enjoyed spending time with his family and grandchildren, hunting and fishing, and playing cards (pitch). He was most proud to become a great grandfather. Eddie was proceeded in death by his parents, grandparents, sisters Katherine “Susie” Round Face, Mary “Sona” Round Face, Velma “Cookie” Bell Rock, Carrie and Judalon “Juby” Round Face, Clara Smells, Sylvia Stops. His Brothers Tony Round Face and Danny Half. His adopted mothers were Lucy Real Bird, Josephine Whiteman, and Dorothy Yellow Mule; Brothers: Anthony Round Face, Fredlin Old Bear, Marty Round Face, and nephew Quinton Round Face. Aunts: June Round Face, Rena Little Light, and Darlene Morning. Uncles: Robert “Bobby” Round Face, Calvin “Mickey” Round Face, and Alex Medicine Horse Sr. and niece Kathy Stops. Eddie is survived by his sister Deanna Round Face, his son Michael Pisano, and daughters Valenna Medicine Horse, Marita Velasquez (whom he was living with when he passed on) , and Carolinne and Alicia of Sweden. Adopted sons Milton Round Face and Chris Pisano; adopted brothers: Sonny La Rance, Cletus, Justin, Howard, and Johnny Round Face, Edward Posey Whiteman Sr., Norman, Channis Whiteman, Lucky Costa, Coyote Runs, Dewey and Wales Bull Tail, Frank Caplett, Ivan Morning, Kennard, Richard, and Jimmy Real Bird, Wilbur (Butch), Tommy, and Bruce Nagel, Ace and Pat Big Lake, Tony Davis, Eugene, Randy, Sealmer Red Star. Vernie Turnsplenty, Ettings Half; Adopted sisters: Dorothy Rides Horse, Georgia Old Dwarf, Roberta Ybarra, Greta Round Face, Geneva Whiteman, Jolene Kills Pretty Enemy, Valeen Plainfeather, Carol Good Luck, Anna Yellow Mule, Buelah Goes Ahead, Mary Agnes Volk, Birdina Real Bird, Marla Fitzler, Jessica Yapuncich, Anne, Jocelyn, and Andrea Costa, Elsie Half, Carletta Half, Iva Shane, Patsy Stands-Bull Tail, Ruby Big Hair, Mary Jane Birdinground, Pamela Little Light, Doris, Regina, Eva and Carol Bull Tail, Janet Old Elk, Candy Nagel, Marva Windy Boy, Geneva and Thelma Other Medicine, Kathy Birdinground. Nieces: Katie Costa, Hannah Small, Tana Shane, Elizabeth Birdinground, Lorna Doney, Roseanna and Gene Dillon; Nephews: Ronald, and Thomas Round Face, Craig and Moose Doney; Chris Dillon; Adopted Mothers: Clara Big Lake, Sylvia Gone, Carol Bullinsight, Julia and Rose Mary Round Face; Grandnieces; Bridgette Old Crow, Mickey Lathers, Matilda Costa, Danielle Rivera, Tianna Plainfeather. Grandchildren: Angel Velasquez, Jessi (Micah) White Clay, Micah Beth Morrison, Mikki, Chaz, Kylee Jo Tushka and one great granddaughter Charly White Clay. Extended Families: Whiteman, Bull Tail, De Crane, Half, Costa, Morning, Real Bird, Moccasin, Walls, Medicine Horse, Stops, Old Bear. Special Thanks to Journey Hospice for excellent care, Nancy O'Keefe, Kathy Osborn, His Doctor for many years, Dr.Roger Santala. Also would like to thank, Birdina Real Bird, and the Chairman of the Crow Tribe Cedric Black Eagle an Father Randolph Graczyk. If we have unintentionally left anyone, please accept our apology. Service: Funeral Service will be 11:00 a.m. Saturday at St. Charles Mission with interment in Round Face Cemetery at Pryor.