Roping event held to memorialize Joe Big Knife

Press release

A memorial to a rodeo icon at Rocky Boy's Indian Reservation was held this summer.

Joe Big Knife Memorial Switch End Roping was held in June at Billy Lamere Arena at Rocky Boy.

Big Knife died Dec. 24, 2018, at age 85.

Big Knife was the father of rodeo at Rocky Boy, Jack Nystrom said. He enjoyed calf roping; ranching, raising cows and horses, and mentoring young cowboys and cowgirls.

His brand was -OX R.H.

Big Knife helped neighbors, family and friends, and also enjoyed going to horse sales.

He and his wife, Roberta, had foster children for many years.

Big Knife served two terms on the Chippewa Cree Business Committee at Rocky Boy. He also served the Rocky Boy School District. Big Knife was a bus driver and Cree language teacher.

"As a kid sitting in the stands at the Havre Rodeo, it felt good to know someone in the rodeo," Nystrom said.

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