This Week in Tribal History

Mary Rogers, Tribal Preservation Department

December 22, 1866 from The Montana Post: “Indian War at Kootenay- The Kootenays, Pen D’Oreilles and several other tribes living on the west side of the Rocky Mountains, in British Columbia, are in open warfare against the Blackfeet Indians. . . , who have come through the Kootenay Pass for the purpose of raiding on their red brethren on this side of the line. The Blackfeet have approached within a few miles of the town of Fishville, on Wild Horse Creek, and, about three weeks ago their signal fires were discovered on a summit of a very high mountain overlooking the town. All the Kootenay Indians in the employ of Mr. Linklighter, of the Hudson Bay Company, have gone out to meet the invaders . . . , and drive them back. The recent outrages upon parties bound for Saskatchewan were perpetuated by Blackfeet Indians on Tobacco Plains.”

December 22, 1875 from The Weekly Missoulian: Helena Independent correspondent from Sun River about the Teton Valley. At the present time the country is infested with Indians of several tribes who are on their annual buffalo hunt. Among these are Pend d’Oreille, who are notorious for their bad behavior, and who, after shared the hospitalities of their friends, the Piegans, until they have secured their supply of dried meat, usually steal what horses they can from then and the neighboring whites, and then ‘light out’ for their home on the Jocko.

December 21, 1883 from The Missoulian: “The Indians of the valley have been returning for several days from a hunt in the Big Hole. They claim they have killed forty-nine elk and moose.”

December 20, 1901 from The Plainsman: “On the Flathead reservation . . . there was organized what is probably the first Indian Stock Association in history. Fifty of the wealthiest of the Flatheads met and perfected an organization. The fifty charter members jointly own 25,000 head of cattle and 20,000 horses.”

December 23, 1904 from The Plainsman: “The senate has confirmed the nomination of Samuel Bellew as agent of the Flathead agency.”

December 23, 1904 from The Plainsman: “F.C. Campbell, superintendent of the Fort Shaw Indian school, is on the Flathead Indian Reservation, where he expects to gather up several children for the school.”

December 24, 1909 from The Sanders County Democrat: “Mrs. J. A. McGowen received as a Christmas reminder a handsome beaded shopping bag, made and presented by a dusky maiden of the Flathead reservation, a daughter of Peter Magpie. Several dollars worth of beads were embroidered in the work.”

December 20, 1912 from The Sanders County Signal: “By a late ruling from Washington, all Indians and wards of the government that are competent will be given deeds to their allotments. This will make their property taxable and help support our schools, etc. Why should they not help carry the burden.”

December 1952 from The Indian Sentinel: Dedication ceremony for St. John Berchman’s Church at Jocko. Tribal members paid for renovation of the church.

If you have any questions or comments please contact Mary Rogers at 675-2700, ext 1320, or Communication Director, Rob McDonald at ext. 1222. Newspaper articles may be suggested for the Preservation archives if the article includes the newspaper name, date and is from 1975 or earlier.