The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1900-192?, 1901-11-09
WILL DIE
OF HUNGER
Starvation Threatens Black
feet Indians.
BUREAU RESPONSIBLE
No More Weekly Rations to Be Issued
Opening of Reservation the Only Rem
edy-A Dark Outlook.

walls from the north report serious
condition of affairs at the BlackfOOt
indian reservation. The result will
be. they say. that scores of the In
dams will starve to death this winter
or else will steal white mems cattle
on The, ranges adjoining.
This condition is the result of the
recent order of the Indian bureau
prohibiting the issuance of weekly ra-
lions 10 these Indians. A gentleman
who claims familiarity with condi|
ions. from long residence in Montana
and knowledge of Indian life. said:
THE purpose Of the order was ex-
cellent It was designated to require
the Piegans or Blackfeet to work. to
earn their living, because of the fact
hat RAJ ion Indians do not become civ
lized. But several important facts
in relation to the Blackfeet have been
lost sight Of For instance. the or
lar permits The issuance of rations
ID the sick, aged and infirm. That
,ill do no good What is one Indians
III VIII laya. The well and strong
will rob the weak and infirm. Then
when starvation stares them in the
, lie wili.a mems cattle will SUI
fer What can the Indians do? There
is absolutely no work for them. The
country is unsettled there's nothing
hey can do
of course there will be no Indian
war The Piegans have gotten over
heir batte spirit They once We're
hard fighters, but for many years
hey have been peaceable. Years
ago the Piegans murderedttyy eNao
ago The Piegans were numbering many
settlers in this section. Many miners
had been killed in the country be-
tween Bolton and Helena and the gov
eminent decided to teach the Indians
| a lesson they would never forget
A force of soldiers under Colonel Bak-
er from Fort Shaw surrounded a band
of Indians at point about 90 miles
north of Bolton. There were so lodges
and every Indian, braves, squaws and
papooses We're killed except three
who escaped. Afterwards the sol.
deirs burned the bodies and all the
Indians property. The Indians have
never forgotten and never have gone
on the warpath again and never will
Now there are about 1000 on the
reserve. OF these about 1900 are
fun bloods and 700 of mixed blood
The full bloods are passing away fast
Twelve years ago there were nearly
1000 of them.
Saturday is ration day 1t is an in
teresting sight to see the Indians
gather to receive their rations. Eacl
family has a card on which is in
dlcated the number in the family. Al
the rations are issued the cards arc
punched to prevent duplicating is
sues Meat, nOur. beans, rice, HON
my and other staples are distributed
III NY oDIuioI TIC plOIAloCu Opcll
ing of the Blackfoot reservation is thu
only solution of the problem that will
really benefit the Indians. They ar,
but children. Cutting off rations with
out means of employment is shee
cruelty. But cut up the reserve int,
2llo,ments, get white men in Their,
and then the Indians will begin tt
learn civilization and will learn t,
labor. See what the Bloods hav
done. They are race similar to tn
Piegans. At their reserve in Albert
all are prosperous. White farmer
are thick and the Indians get all tn
employment they desire on the farm
and in the fields. They are goo
workmen and are fast acquiring tn
habits of industry and its benefits"