Tribes honor 150th anniversary of Hellgate Treaty

MISSOULA — On July 16, 1855 members of the Salish, Kootenai and Pend d'Oreille tribes signed a treaty with Gov. Isaac Stevens agreeing to cede their 20 million acres of land to the United States in exchange for the 1.25 million-acre reservation in the Flathead Valley. And 150 years latter, both Indian and non-Indians alike gathered at the site of the signing to remember the past and look to the future.

Saturday at Council Grove State Park, tribal members spoke about the impact the signing had on their culture and where the relationship between Indians and non-Indians is today.

"How many non-Indians here think you understand our culture?" asked Vernon Finley, language instructor at Salish Kootenai College.

A couple hands shot up from a crowd of a hundred or more.

"How many Indians think you understand their culture?"

Again, several hands rose.

"Well, 150 years hasn't been all wasted," he said.

Finley said that at the time of the signing, Indian people lived their lives in a spiritual manner and that the concept of owning land didn't register with them.

"Try to ask one of those [tribal] people, 'Do you own this [land]?' What do you think the response would be?" Finley asked.

Here were two groups from two different world views meeting to try to accommodate a way for them to live together, he explained. When the Kootenai chief was approached about giving up their land, he agreed on the condition that his people can continue to hunt, fish, gather berries and carry on their ways in which they are accustomed.

"I want to be able to do all of that that we have always done," Finley quoted the Kootenai chief. "If we can do that, than go ahead and say you own the land."

But the chief didn't realize the effects signing the treaty would have and what a battle it would be in the future to try to hold people to the agreement, Finley explained.

"But here we are 150 years later with a little bit more of an understanding with one another and we're still trying." he said.

However, internal tribal relations need further strengthening as well, Finley added.

"We've got a lot of work among one another," he said. "Instead of pulling each other apart we have to pull it together."

That sentiment was also expressed by Francis Auld, who served as emcee for the event.

"Internally the tribes have to understand each other," Auld stated. "Internally we have to come to peace with each other."

Invitations were extended to Gov. Brian Schweitzer, Sen. Max Baucus, Sen. Conrad Burns and Rep. Dennis Rehberg and while they did not attend, letters were read on their behalf. Some of the attendees were disappointed that no state elected officials showed up.

"The Hellgate Treaty stands today as a document of importance, not only to the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes but to all Americans," Baucus wrote in a letter read by Tribal councilwoman Jami Hamel. "By honoring and upholding this sacred document we honor the best in who we are and make possible a future of justice and respect for all of us."

Hamel said that they were not celebrating the treaty, per se, but acknowledging the day of the signing.

"It is an important day in history and we need to get the tribes' perspectives out there," she said.

"This is the place of your ancestors bones," said Tribal counciman Steve Lozar. "We're here to honor them. We're very thankful and proud to be here."