Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-10-15

IA VERY creditable ex-
~ hibit. The quality of
the grain is excellent
and if properly put up and en-
tered in the regular classes it
would have shown well in
competition with the grain
from other parts of the state.
The vegetables are also of very
/. good quality. The display of
farm products demonstrates
very clearly that the Indians,
under proper direction, can
produce their own foodstuffs
and can maintain themselves
Independent of any govern
mental aid"
Such was the expression of
Carl Peterson, county agent
for Fergus county, after he
had completed the judging Of
the agricultural display made
at the 1922 Montana state
fair by the full-blood Indian
farmers of the Blackfeet res
ervation. Mr.. Peterson. who was in
charge of the corn division in the
agricultural department of the state
fair, judged the Indian exhibits sep
%arately, as they had not been entered
for competition in the agricultural
show.
Mr.. Peterson was modest in his ex-
pressions of praise for the Indian ex-
hibit. He could have spoken in far
more complimentary terms for the dis
play made by the Indians was com
posed of some very fine samples of
wheat. oats and barley in the sheaf
and of various kinds of garden pro-
ducts.
Shown in Temporary Structure
The display, which was arranged on
very short order because of the fact
that authority for the showing by the
Indians was not received from Wash
ington until three days before the
opening day of the state fair. was not
large but was very comprehensive in
character.
1t was shown in a temporary struct-
ure erected between the agricultural
building and the main entrance to the
/ grounds which was not put up until
J after the arrival of the Indians from
their reservation late Sunday evening.
Then it had to be restricted to a lum-
Der frame covered with canvas. but it
was of sufficient size TO accommodate
most of the stuff and it proved one of
the very interesting features of the
fair. being visited by hundreds of peo-
pie during the week.
With the exhibit of field and gar
den produce were a number of pieces
Of Indian needle work. bead work in
the form of belts. jackets, moccasins,
knife and gun scabbards and leggings.
There were elaborate war bonnets,
quirts, bows and arrows and many
other articles of Indian wear brought
a.. by the party that only a small portion
could be shown in the exhibit tent and
the bulk of the display was maintained
in the large, decorated lodge of Mr..
and Mrs. WadeS in the Water adjoin- I
ing the exhibit tent.
Fur Robes on Floor
This lodge, n very large canvas tcpee
decorated with the representations of
the otter. proved ar interesting place
for the fair visitors and was well
crowded during the week. Its arrange
ment was studied with great interest
by the curious, many of whom had
never before been inside an Indian
home of this character. Within the I
lodge were hundreds of pieces of In
dian work and the floor was covered
with fur robes of various of the wild
animals.
In addition to this lodge there were
two other structures of the same char
acter surrounding the exhibit tent but
these were not thrown open to visitors.
Included in the party of Blackfeet
Indians which was under the charge
of F. c. Campbell. superintendent of
the Blackfeet reservation, was Wades