Finley brings Kootenai culture to Glacier visitors

They come for the scenic beauty and wildlife, but for some Glacier National Park visitors, they also leave the park with a better understanding of Kootenai culture and history, too.

The park recently wrapped up the 25th year of its popular Native America Speaks program, and Vernon Finley has been a guest speaker representing the Kootenai culture for several years. He gave presentations throughout the summer at Apgar ampitheater, a place of historical significance to the Kootenai culture long before it was a part of Glacier Park.

"Originally, before it was Apgar it was the winter camp of the Kootenais. The Kootenai name for it translates to 'the place where they dance.' I'm told by the elders it was the winter camp for 10,000 generations," Finley said. "The jump dance we do in the middle of the winter was started there - the first place where we were placed here on earth."

Finley said that by 1800, the winter camp consisted of as many as 15,000 Kootenais. However, by the end of the century, they had to relocate their winter camp to another area after the Apgar family homesteaded in the area, and felt uncomfortable with such a large Native American presence nearby, Finley said.

"When he homesteaded that area, he didn't want a bunch of Kootenais to come and camp there," he said.

Finley is the only Kootenai speaker in the program. While there is one Pend d'Oreille singer from St. Paul, Minn., the rest are all Blackfeet, reflecting the park's close proximity to that reservation.

Finley is given free rein by park personnel to talk about whatever topics he wants to, but they did ask him to emphasize the Kootenai history and culture as it related to areas in and around the park. Finley was selected to do the presentations after park personnel contacted the Tribes, and were referred to the Kootenai Culture Committee, of which Finley is a part.

Finley said he talks about the history of the winter camp — and its relocation — as one aspect of his presentation, but he doesn't want to be perceived by park visitors as being frustrated about it.

"I present that because it's history, but I try not to present it like there's anything negative about it," Finley said.

Finley said a prior park administrator, upon hearing his presentation, asked him to give it to park employees at the start of the summer season, and even asked Finley if the park should close Apgar briefly in the winter to allow the winter dance to take place there again.

"When I told the elders about it they appreciated the spirit of the offer," Finley said, but ultimately it made more sense to continue holding the winter dance at its current location in Elmo, he said.

But Finley's presentation doesn't just focus on the historical significance of Apgar. He also talks about the Kootenai world view, and the implications that has for both Kootenai and non-Kootenai people.

"It's more of a presentation of different world views, and how the Kootenai world view came about and how that differs from other Western views," Finley said, noting that the differences have led to misunderstandings between cultures.

"The views of leadership, property ownership, components of government - those are usually the main areas I hit on," Finley said.

He said his presentations are generally well-received and that people often wait around after it's over to ask more questions.

"Every single time there's always a group who hangs around after the presentation who really enjoy hearing about the area, but also the different world view," Finley said. "The Kootenai world view is very spiritual and some people feel that they have a greater spiritual view, which I think is why they like the presentation."

Finley said there's usually a common bond between people who would visit a national park and those who attend his presentations, in that national parks - and especially Glacier - often attract people who appreciate the beauty and sanctity of nature.

"The Kootenai world view is very spiritual, and some people feel they have a greater spiritual view. It comes down to the type of person who visits the park. If they are camping in Glacier Park the reason they are there is that their spirit is wanting to connect to the spirits there," Finley explained. "Consciously, they might think of some other reason, like they want to vacation there, but their spirit is drawn to the spiritual connections there."

The type of person who looks for that type of an escape would be one that is a more spiritual person, and therefore more likely to appreciate the Kootenai world view, he said.

Finley said visiting the park to give his presentation is a rejuvenating experience for him, too.

"The hike to Avalanche Lake has 500-year-old cedar trees along the way. There are spirits in those trees who heard my people dancing 500 years ago, long before they thought there were other people in the world," he said.

He said he expected some anti-Tribal sentiment or questions from the audience - the presentations are free and open to anyone - but that everyone has been receptive, even when he talks about how the Kootenais were forced from their winter camp area.

"I expected that but I haven't gotten any (negative feedback)," he said. "They seem to enjoy the presentations."

The Native America Speaks program is funded by a donation from the Glacier Natural History Association, according to information on the park's Website. Finley said he's received a stipend in prior years, but that he didn't this year, which might have been an oversight.

"In years past they would call it an honorarium - it's usually like $125 to $150 - but that's not the important thing," he said. "It's getting there and being able to talk to people from all over the country."