Pete Beaverhead book published in memory of Joan Arlee

PABLO — A Salish language version of a Pete Beaverhead’s ‘Mary Quequesah’s Love Story,’ has been published by SKC Press. This edition is in memory of Joan Arlee, the late wife of Johnny Arlee, who passed away in 2003.

Pete tells how, during the buffalo-hunting era of the nineteenth century, Mary’s husband left her, and a wise old woman showed her how to get him back. The young couple were reunited and lived happily together for many years after. This Pend d’ Oreille tale explores the timeless difficulties of young love.

The story was recorded by Johnny Arlee during the 1970’s and has been published several times in English since then. It first appeared in the Indian Reading Series published by the Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory in Portland in 1981. This is the first Salish language edition. The book features woodcut drawings by Dwight Billedeaux.

The Salish version is in the International Phonetic Alphabet and is accompanied by a word-for-word English translation to assist language students. The English translation in this edition closely parallels the Salish and so does not make sense by itself. The written Salish has been produced by Johnny Arlee and his language students: Sam Buffalo, Patricia McClure-Buffalo, Willie Wright, Shandin Pete, Salisha Old Bull-Pete and Kale Gardner.

Copies are available for $8 each at the SKC Bookstore and by mail from the SKC Press, PO Box 70, Pablo, MT, 59855. Please include $2 for shipping for the first copy plus $.50 for each additional copy.