The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1898-09-09
The F,atbead Indians of British CO.

The Flathead Indians of British Coz
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 their peculiarities. Friendly con-
tact with this people shows them to be
of an entirely different disposition from
their northwestern brothers and dis
tinct as tribe. They receive no help
from the government, for the reason
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 buildiAg and kindred
employments. Fishing and hop-picE-
ing are the principal industries in
which they are employed during the
summer, while in winter telling 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 prom
inent feature Great numbers of these
ingenious Indians live along the trend
of the Frazier river, which winds its
way through dark canyons, amid tow
ering mountains, where in proximity
to the waters turbulently falling over
the rocks they live in 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 playing on
occasions of festivities in the cities.
They are great fish eaters and their
mild temperament is attributed to the
effect of this diet, which is the chief food
of every meal, and cooked by means of
smoking, which gives it an appearance
that detracts much from it's delicious
taste. At the end of the fishing season
those who receive their entire summers
earnings in bulk leave at 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 its 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, fat-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-
GENTLY heavy for strong man to carry,
but, fastened as it is to their backs, they
evince no sign of WEAKNESS; 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-
troit Free Press.