The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1908-07-31
.INsPEcTs INDIAN VILLAGES.
Curator Fish Maps Out Old Mandan,
:, Gros ventre and Rec Villages.

Curator Fish Maps Out Old Mandan,
Gros ventre and Rec Villages.
Curator Fish has returned from his
trip Of inspection and mapping Of the
old ,Mandan, eros ventre and Rec vii.
lagos up along the west bank of the
Missouri to the Berthold reservation.
Despite the vast swarms of mos.
quitoes and the hot weather he re.
ports a pleasant and profitable trip.
the party consisted Of Curator Fish.
Mr.. Stout and Mr.. Steinbrueck. They
made about It's miles of driving and
tramped many more miles: over the
hiNs running down clues of the old
sites.
Their first work was the inspection
Of the Fort Clark and Deapolis village
sites. These villages are under the
direct supervision of the society. The
Fort Clark site is one of the best along
the river. The villages near the
mouth of the Knife river were. care.
fully gone over, and a large dance
circle and fortified position, outside
the village walls half mile was sur
veyed.
The most interesting villages were
the two Rec towns below Beaver
creek, on the reservation. One is a
very small village, and the other a
much larger one with dance circle.
The Rees in that locality forty.eight
years ago were divided into two fac
lions. One wanted to found village
near Beaver creek and the other, the
minority faction, wanted to go south.
The majority ruled and built the large
village below the Beaver, and IN or.
der not to divide the nation, the. mi.
nority went off by themselves and
built the small village half a mile
above them. They remained friends
and both used the dance lodge of the
larger village.
One day the white trader Of the
village got into trouble with a Sioux
and he was killed. This started q
battle between the Rees and the
Sioux, and many a frightful killing
was done that day. Fearing lest the
Sioux should come back with large
band, these Rees moved across the
river to Fort Berthold, and lived with
the Mandan and eros Ventre.
Secretary Libbey had made arrange
ments with Rev. Hall, an the reser
walton, to have an old Rec go down
and look over the village with the sur
veying party. When the old Rec went
out to the larger village the memories
OF the past came thick and fast. He
went to one end of the village and
looked toward the coulee where his
friends and relatives were slain: he
faced the cemetery where they were
buried, and then to the rings Of earth
which were the houses of friend and
neighbor and his own home and OF
his kin. He stood and talked to him
self. he raised his voice louder and
louder, tears of anguish rolled down
his cheeks, and, finally, looking up
into the sky, his voice became sub.
dued, and he softly repeated many
words. Then slowly bending down he
touched the earth gently with his
hand, wiped the tears of his cheeks,
and with the dignity of king, came
over to the party which was to get
the location of the people of the vii.
lage. When the interpreter was ask.
ed what he said, the answer was:
"He Is grieving because of former
memories" The homes of the differ.
ent Rees, the great men Of the village,
and the story Of the former days, was
recited, and in the end, with a mum.
Der Of Rec, the large peace pipe was
passed around.
An interesting site near Expansion
was surveyed and on the way home
the party located an old signal tower.
number of Sioux village sites which
were shown by the rings of stone, and
two old buffalo corrals. and also in.
spected factory where arrows had
been made.