The Florence tribune., 1897-09-04
CONTENTED INDIANS.
Facts About the Flatheads of
 British Columbia.
They Are Independent and Industrt- ous and Maintain Themselves by Hard Work and
 Fragalfty.

The Flathead Indians of British Co- lumbia afford an extensive field for character study and the writer, having lived among them number of years, has had unlimited opportunity for not ing ffleir peculiarities Friendly con tact with this people shows them to be Of m entirely different disposition from their northwestern brothers and dis tinet as Q tribe. They receive no he4 from the government, for the rersou that they are well able to sustain them selves by securing Employment at numerous occupations open to them.
 Independence is stamped upon their countenances and their talent consists in carving, canoe building and kindred employments. Fishing and hop-pick- ing are the principal industries in which they. are employed during the summer, while in winter felling timber and hunting give ample compensation for comfortable living. Canoes are their means of transportation, and their skill in manipulating the paddle is often made manifest during town ex- hibitions, in which this sport is q prom inent feature. Great numbers of these ingenious Indians live along the trend of the Frazier river, which winds it's way through dark canyons, amid tow ering mountains, where in proximity to the waters turbulently falling over the rocks they live in a state of felicity, fishing and hunting.
 The ritual of the Roman Catholic church attracts many of them and schools of this denomination are scat tered about the province. Industrial schools also are opened for their spe- cial benefit and many of the youthful Indians avail themselves of this valu- able instruction.
 Indian brass bands have been or ganized at different stations, and it is amazing to note their rapid acquisition of skill in the management of the diff ferent musical instruments, consider ing they were comparatively strangers to anything in this line such short time ago, and now it is quite common sight to observe these bands plnying on occasions Of festivities in the cities.
 They are great fish caters and thear uild temperauaant is attributed to the effect Of this diet, which is the r4tiei food of every meal, and cooked by means If smoking, which gives t m appearance that detraets much from it's delicious taste. At the end of the fishing season those who receive their entire summers earnings ia bulk leave u once for the city, there to transform the money into merchandise, for they are far from be- ing money accumulators and have a decided liking for receiving it's worth in actual goods.
 The clothes the Flathead Indian wears are of his own selection, for the people initiate the whites in regard to dress, in so far that some wear derby hats, causing an amusing spectacle to the visiting stranger, for the reason that their peculiar, flat-shaped heads compel them to wear these hats with the peaks overlapping the ears.
 The women are hard workers and are frequently seen walking through the cities burdened with. pack" suffi- ciently heavy for strong man to carry, but, fastened as it is to their backs, they eyince no sign of weariness; while in the winter they are seen walking along with characteristic gait in their bare feet, over ice and snow, showing. no apparent discomfort for the exposure. The older women, like the male charac- ters previously described, are not re- markable for their beauty, but sick ness is infrequent among themm.-De- l troit Free Press.