White Pine news. [volume] (East Ely, Nev.) 1920-1923, 1922-06-04
SHOWERS OF THE QUILL
JOIN BLACKfEET TRIBE

In preparation for entertainment
of members of the National Editorial
Association on their arrival in Ola
cier National park during their Mon
tana our in July the Blackfeet Ill
dian council has appointed its recep-
tion committee to greet the editors
in genuine "aborigine fashion, The
welcoming red men will consist OF
the tribal chiefs of the Glacier Ma
tiona1 Park reservation, Two Guns
White Calf, Eagle Calf, Wolf Robe,
Many Tail Feathers. Heavy Breast,
Turtle, Lazy BOY, Middle Rider, Big
Springs and Curley Bear. This ar
ray OF fullbloods, attired in beaded
buckckin and feathered regalia, will
present a dazzling sight to the quill
showers from among whose tribe
each of the Indian chiefs will select
subjects for initiation into their own
tribe. The adoption ceremony at
tending the taking of white men into
the Blaekfeet tribe Is a picturesque
proceeding.
The p%alefaee subjects, stripped TO
the waist, are arranged. kneelng,
within a circle of Indians. Amid the
tumult of beating tomtoms and sol
emn chanting of the adoption song
each chief paints his family hero
glyphics upon the bare back OF the
white man he is to sponsor with an
Indian anne
Wallace O'Dell, president of the
New York Editorial Association. is
known to be under consideration as
one of the prospective subjects for
adoption, and it is understood the In
dians have been in communication
with the executive officers of the Ma
ticnal Editorial Association seeking
the names of other state editorial
chiefs. The Indians are bent On hon.
oring real chiefs like themselves and
they naturally regard the editorial
chiefs rs the mes who cas- up
as their own peers. Consequently
they are making their initiation ar
engagements accordingly.
For the comfort OF these men IL
may be said the ceremony Is not
nearly so trying rs being tarred ana
~feathored by the Ku Klux Khan, since
the vegetable dyes used by The In
dians readily wash off with ordinary
soap and water. Mrs. Medicine
Weasle. who has charge of the color
ealdren, Will be a busy woman dur
ing all the month of June directing
the flying squadron Of squaws taat
will roam the Rocky mountain slopes
gathering roots and herbs which will
be stepped to produce all the eolors
OF the rainbow that are to decorate
the backs of the class of editorial
chiefs 10 be honored on this gala
occasion.
The Blackfeet Indian council has
written To Louis w. Hill, chairman
of the Great Northern railway, orc OF
the charter members of its tribe of
Adopted Paleface Brothers." asking
him &c issue formal invitations to all
white men and women in the United
States who have been taken into the
Blaekfeet tribe. urging as many as
can be present In July when the big
initiation ceremony for the editors"
takes place. The Indians keep a rec.
ord OF all of their adoptions. each
accepted paleface member signing his
W name and his Indian name with
the historical mammoth golden eagle
quill that has been handed down
through generations by the chiefs of
the B~lackfeet tribe. The tribal led
ger contains the names of several
hundred white people. many Of them
men and women of national distinc-
tion. Mr.. Hili's Indian naine is
Gray Horse Rider.
Thus the editors on this tour. after
viewing The agricultural stretches o.
Montana. taking part in the semi-cen-
~tennial celebration of the establish
ment of Yellowstone park and finish
ing their business meeting in Mis-
soula. will find an interesting part of
their program is to take place when
they reach tho famed erstwhile hunt
ing grounds of the Blaekfeet Indians
in the Rocky mountains of Glacier
National Park.