Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1916-11-24
INDIANS ELECT
A new CHIEF
Son of Chief Isadore, Deceased, Is
Now the Head Of the Kootenai
Tribe
FIR. LAMBOT ATTENDS CEREMONY
Indian Agent Galbraith, of Creston,
Also Here For the Occasion

Conforming to the customs of ages
and obeying the dying wishes of
Chief Isadore who ruled them for
1S years and who died August 2,
last summer, the members of the
Kootenai tribe of Indians last Thurs
day evening selected as their leader
the second son of the deceased Isa-
dore, Narcisse (Charles). The first
son of the deceased chief is in adj
vanced stages of tuberculosis.
The election of the new chief
was held in the Mission chapel and
was conducted with the assistance of
Father Lambot, of Cranbrook, the
spiritual advisor of the tribe; Mr..
Galbraith, of Creston, Indian agent
for the Canadian government and
one of the first white people to
come into this district; and Mr.. and
Mrs. M. S. Fisher, who are in charge
of the Indian Mission school here
as employees of the u. S. goven-
ment.
The selection of the new chief has
been a very important matter with
the Kootenai Indians. Every male
of the tribe over 81 years old was
given a vote and when the time
came for expressing their desires
each man rose in his place and told
of his choice and why he had de-
termined upon the choice. The vote.
for Narcisse was not unanimous as
four members of the tribe voted for
David and Stannish received one
vote.
The morning following the cleo
ton the new chief informed his
tribesmen as to his desires in regard
to the enforcing of discipline in the
school, idling about the city of Bon
ners Ferry and being away from the
Mission after dark. This was done
in the chapel after Father Lambot
had said the morning mass. AS the
Indians filed out of the chapel the
men fired a salute in honor of the
new chief.
The Indians are planning to hold
big celebration during the hol-
iday season in honor of Chief Isa-
dore, the Second. A feast and dane
ing will be the features of the cele-
bration which is likely to extend
over several days.
M. d. Colgrove, U. S. Indian agent
directly in charge of the Kootenai
tribe, who makes his headquarters
at Tekoa, Wash, planned to be here
to attend the election of the chief.
He arrived on Monday of last week,
having been misinformed of the date
and was not able to remain over.
While Father Lambot was here
he united in holy wedlock Magdaline
Francis and Pierre Alexander, both
Is years of age. The wedding took
place at the church at the Mission
and was witness by the entire tribe.
= Phillip Cutsack, a prominent
member of the Kootenai tribe is Sc
riously i'll with tuberculosis and
while Father Lambot was here he
administered the last Sacrament as
there seemed to be no possibility
of Cutsack surviving another week.
(Later) Phillip Cutsack died Tues
day afternoon at 1870 o'clock. The
funeral services were conducted at
the Mission chapel that afternoon
by Chief Isadore. After the SER
vices the tribesmen walked in twos
to the graveyard where the deceased
was buried. The burial box was
. made and painted by the friends
and hnsmen of the deceased.
During his visit at the Mission of
two days last week Father Lambot
was called upon to give all the sac
raments within the power of priest
This is unusual for a priest to be
: required to exercise all his authority
: in such a short time.