Top Story

Glacier National Park’s Going-to-the-Sun Road marks 75th anniversary

By B.L. Azure

Tony Incashola tells the story of the Salish, Pend d’Oreille and Kootenai drummers, singers and dancers who attended the Going-to-the-Sun Road opening dedication 75 years ago. Tragically two were killed and several more were injured in a vehicle wreck en route to Glacier National Park. (B.L. Azure photo)

GLACIER NATIONAL PARK — Hundreds of people including delegations from the Flathead and Blackfeet nations as well as Montana’s governor and the state’s two U.S. Senators journeyed to Lake McDonald Lodge Friday. They were on hand to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Going-to-the-Sun Road.

There were also honored guests that included a dozen or so people who were among the 4,000 at the 1933 dedication and opening of the Going-to-the-Sun Road.

Among the group was 85-year-old Salish Elder Felicite McDonald of the Mission Valley. As a 10-year-old child Felicite was among a group of 40 Salish, Pend d’Oreille and Kootenai singers and dancers invited to the 1933 dedication to represent the tribal place in history pre-dating Glacier National Park. However, the journey that began in Arlee was marred with tragedy.

The 75th anniversary ceremonies were originally scheduled to be at the Logan Pass visitors center but were moved to Lake McDonald Lodge because the Going-to-the-Sun Road was still being cleared of its winter and spring snowy overcoat.

Sen. Jon Tester, CSKT Council Chairman James Steele Jr. and Blackfeet Nation Chief Earl Old Person shoot the breeze Friday at Lake McDonald Lodge. (B.L. Azure photo)

After more than an hour delay all invited dignitaries and representatives had arrived and the event began at 3 p.m. The Blackfeet Nation Honor Guard posted the colors accompanied by a Blackfeet drum group. Then singers Rob Quist and Jack Gladstone led the gathered in the singing of the National Anthem.

Recently named Superintendent of Glacier National Park Chas Cartwright served as the master of ceremonies. “What a great way to start out, hosting the 75th anniversary of the Going-to-the-Sun Road,” he said. “This is a very auspicious occasion. Not since the 50th anniversary have there been so many dignitaries gathered here.”

The political dignitaries included, Sen. Max Baucus, Sen. Jon Tester, Gov. Brian Schweitzer, Blackfeet Nation Chief Earl Old Person and Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribal Council Chairman James Steele, Jr. Rep. Denny Rehberg was not able to attend but had a representative on hand to read his official comments.

Bill Dakin, a realtor from Columbia Falls, followed with a history of the Going-to-the-Sun Road. Glacier National Park was established in 1910 and construction of the historic road began in 1925 and was completed in 1932. It was opened for public use in 1933 and officially dedicated on July 14, 1933.

Many of the speakers alluded to the omnipresence of the highest of dignitaries, the Creator.

CSKT Council Chairman James Steele, Jr. and Gov. Brian Schweitzer exchange pleasantries Friday at Glacier National Park. (B.L. Azure photo)

Gov. Brian Schweitzer said that prior to the establishment of Glacier National Park the area was part of the aboriginal territory of the area’s tribes.

“Before these 75 years, hundreds of generations of Blackfeet, Pend d’Oreille and Kootenai people had been coming to this place,” Schweitzer said. “You cannot help but think that this place was the work of the Creator. No doubt about that.”

Sen. Max Baucus said, “The road is not really a road, it is a journey.”

Sen. Jon Testers said Glacier Park “is a very special place” to come and view “all the things God has done.”

Blackfeet Nation Chief Earl Old Person said he had heard stories from tribal elders about the opening events of the Going-to-the-Sun Road that traverses what the Blackfeet call the Backbone of the World.

Old Person attended the 50th anniversary event in 1983 that was held at Logan Pass visitors center amidst snowflakes and cold windy weather. He said he was glad to be back for another milestone in Glacier National Park history. He said a history of Glacier Park is not complete without acknowledgement of the tribal role in that history.

“This is a great celebration. We used to hear our elders talk about these events of the past years. I remember my father talking about the first dedication,” Old Person said. “Whenever you are in Indian Country, remember you are among people who have a history.”

CSKT Council Chairman James Steele, Jr. followed Old Person at the lectern. He said that the Blackfeet were in such good spirits today that they wouldn’t mind if he claimed the area for the Pend d’Oreille and Kootenai people.

Felicite McDonald and daughter Maxine McDonald toughed it out under the hot sun at Lake McDonald Lodge Friday during the Going-to-the-Sun Road 75th anniversary festivities. Felicite was at the opening festivities for the road 75 years ago and was recognized for that. (B.L. Azure photo)

“In 1933 some of our elders came here and lost their lives,” Steele said about the Flathead delegation of singers and dancers at the opening dedication of the Going-to-the-Sun Road. Steele said the accident swayed the singers and dancers quite a bit but they continued on to the dedication at Logan Pass. “They had a desire to be here.”

Salish Pend d’Oreille Culture Committee Director Tony Incashola followed Steele.

“Today is a great day” Incashola said, adding that people of all walks and times have a moral and spiritual responsibility to take care of this beautiful country for future generations.

Incashola then talked about that fated day - July 14, 1933 - when the tribal people’s journey from Flathead Indian Reservation to Glacier National Park began with high spirits but ended with heavy hearts. It was another chapter in the history of the Salish, Pend d’Oreille and Kootenai people. Incashola acknowledged Felicite McDonald who was seated next to the Yamncut Drum with a purple cloth umbrella shielding her from the hot sun and its 85-degree temperature.

Early that morning in 1933 military transport trucks dispatched to the Flathead Reservation to pick up tribal drummers, singers and dancers began picking up passengers in Arlee. Felicite McDonald boarded one of the three trucks driven by members of the Civilian Conservation Corps from the West Glacier camp around 3:30 a.m.

The journey from Arlee to Glacier Park, with stops in reservation towns to pick up more drummers, singers and dancers, took more than 12 hours to complete. There were three trucks in all; two carried the 40 people and the third carried equipment and supplies. However, one of the trucks carrying 21 tribal people didn’t complete the journey. It got lost from the view of the lead trucks in the dust and they assumed it would soon catch up. While waiting east of Columbia Falls for the third truck to catch up, Felicite and the others were notified by people in another vehicle that the truck had wrecked and there were fatalities.

The CCC driver had been driving for nearly 20 hours and fell asleep and plunged down a steep embankment. The 21 people were ejected and two - Louise Cullooyah and Michael Kizer - were killed and several were injured. One of the injured - Andrew Many Bear - succumbed to his injuries the following spring. Many of the others were injured for life.

The injured included Alexander Calowahcan Beaverhead, Eneas Michael Conko, Sophie Conko, Isabel Granjo, Sophie Granjo, William Michel, Sophie Moiese, Pierre Pierre, Martine Siwahsah, Mary Calowahcan Smallsalmon and two of her children, Michel Smallsalmon, Mary Kyser Stateah and Joseph Woodcock.

“This area is very important to our people,” Incashola said.

The Yamncut Drum then sang an honor song for the members of that ill-fated journey and for the present day.

Felicite McDonald is now the only survivor of the 1933 Flathead tribal delegation. “I am the only survivor left. They are all gone,” she said. “All the elders are gone. It’s sad.”

Gone but not forgotten. Forever in the hearts and pages of tribal history.