The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1908-01-02
INDIAN CUSTOMS In MONTANA.
Mr.. Bernard Gender Describes Christ
Mas As Ii Is Observed Arnons the
AbOrinSinaiS.


AbOrinSinais.
To the Editor of The Republican:
DEAR SIR: Owing TO the heavy de-
crease in traffic the Northern Pacific
Railway has cut out a considerable num-
Der Of operators and there being one
taken off at Thompson Falls, 1t so hap
pened that it was | who had TO suffer
and be moved This place which,
although not quite so prettily located as
Thompson, yet it is much larger, 1t
having population Of about thousand
inhabitants. Plains is the largest town
in Sanders county, abont 25 miles east
of Thompson Falls. situated in the
center Of large plain of about 10 or II
miles in diameter, through which runs
the beautiful Clark Fork of the Col
umbia River. On this plain one can see
many large farms, which produces
thousands of bushels of wheat yearly,
also lot of live stock
Plains main support comes from the
farms in the vicinity and the Flathead
Indians, whose reservation is but four
miles north.
The Indians from this reservation buy
all of their supplies here. Since ! have
been in Plains / have noticed quite
number of Indians on the streets.
They all dress in their native garments
but do not paint their faces or wear
feathers in their hair. Most of the In
dian men wear their hair long and let
IT hang down their backs. They also
wear broad brim cowboys hat.
As it is getting around Christmas
time will try and tell you what this
means to them.
| understand that many Of the Indians
that keep up their tribal existence are
Christians. To them, as to the white
people, Christmas is an important ami
versary, but they celebrate it in their
own way. This way would not be ap-
proved by certain Christian denomina-
tons of white people because it includes
as the chief feature a dance.
The southwestern Indian tribes have
a special fondness for all sorts of cere-
monial dances. Every dance has a
deep significance to them. When they
assemble for their Christmas observ-
ance they begin by praying for rain and
bountiful crops, then follows the dance.
This is the only dance in which the
women are permitted to take part. The
men and women form in opposite lines
and start up a song. their bodies sway
ing in rhythm. Then they break up in
to groups and dance towards each other
with a hippity-hop step holding their
bodies rigid. The next movement is to
form a circle and dance around Christ
mas tree hung with articles which are
gifts Of Santa Claus to good Indians.
The Indians kneel and pray in front of
an altar during the performance,
When Santa Claus visits the Indian
papoose on the plains he does not find
stockings in which to deposit his pres
ent. AS rule the little Indians in the
tepee does not wear stockings, for the
first year or two at any rate. The baby
IS strapped to a board, its body wrap
ped in warm skins and only its head
sticking out so that it can cry without
being cramped for space. Frequently
the papoose takes its nap in an upright
position, its mother leaning the baby
board against the tepee pole On
Christmas eve Santa Claus steals into
the tepee and lays beside the sleeping
papoose its Christmas presents. These
are not so numerous or so costly as the
white baby's presents, but to the little
bronze baby they are just as good.
Nearly always the Incian baby gets
things Of bright colors. Indians. big
and little, are particularly fond of
garish hues. A red necktie, blue rib
bon, a yellow scarf or stick of striped
candy may be the selection of Santa
Claus, but string of shells or beads,
the tooth of an elk or the claw of a
bear is most likely to be the papoose's
present. When the papoose wakes up
and find its gifts it is just as happy as
the richest white child in the land.
Will close for this time by wishing a
merry Christmas and a happy and 4
successful new year for you and your
paper.
BERNARD GoNDER.
Plains, Mont, Dec. 90 1907.
Concerning the Deer Park School.