The Kevin review. [volume] (Kevin, Mont.) 1922-1929, 1923-08-09

or the Triple Divide, where til
watershed divides between the Pac1
+; fic ocean,, Hudson Bay and the Gul
! of Mexico, may be seen Mount Ma
Wolf, which rears it's crest proud.
to a height of more than 10000 feet
and stands a fitting monument t
5 one of the greatest chiefs of tn
l Blackfeet nation, after whom it wa
t named.
, Mad Wolf will go down in Black
feet history and tradition as one o.
the greatest war chiefs, orators and
He died May %, 1902, and no CHIEF
of the Blackfeet ever passed away
amid greater sorrowing in the tribe
by whom he was beloved and res
pected. The loss of his voice at the
tribal councils was keenly felt. The
old men of the nation shook their
heads sadly. They said the greatness
and glory of the Blackfeet had de-
parted; that the young men who
were growing up did not understand
and we're Indifferent to ancient Gus
toms and traditions.
Mad Wolf we'll remembered the
first visit of Father De Smet to the
Blackfeet in 1916, for at the time
of the coming of the great mission
airy he was a renowned warrior and
becoming one of the leading men of
the tribe. He used to tell the story
of Father De Smet's coming as fol-
lows:
Coming Of Father De Smet
when Big Lake was our head
chief, an expedition made up from
the clan of Small Robes Ca Blackfeet
secret society crossed the Rocky
mountains to visit the Flathead Ind
ians. They met there a Black Robe
(Father De Smet). He was a good
man, so they persuaded him to re-
turn with them. We named him
Long Teeth, because of the appear
ance of his teeth. He lived with us
for a long time, occupying a large
tepee near the center of our camp,
in which he kept his religious outfit
and held his ceremonials. He had
a large bell which he always rang
before beginning.
Whenever our hunters or warriors
returned to camp he visited their
lodges, and taking them, with their
wives and children, to his big tent,
babe them all kneel down and give
to the great spirit for their
safe return. He taught the people
day to remain in camp and not
to go off on var and hunting expedi-
ions. On the seventh day he always
held an important ceremonial, which
began in the morning and lasted un-
midday.
'One spring, just after the big
aims, when we we're camped close to
he Rocky mountains hunting grizzly
pears, Long Teeth ran his bell and
ode through the camp announcing {
hat it was the seventh day and that
le would hold a ceremonial. 1t hap {
,ened that a man named Motokis, {
When he heard the bell, began prep !
.rations for a hunt. His wife made l
objections and said they should go y
ogether to the ceremonial. But Mo- l
okis derided her and scoffed at the
saying defiantly that he
to go on a hunt and kill a
ear. He ordered his son to bring Q
I the horses and go with him on the II
unit. q
MotOkis Is Killed :.
"Long Teeth and others warned =
not to go. But it was in /,
ain. Motokis laughed at all of Y
and started with his son to-
ard the mountains. Soon after the r,
when the sun was high, r
lie boy rode into camp at a gallop, =,
louting that a grizzly bear was kill 4,
e his father. He said that loon
ter he and his father had entered II
70 mountains they discovered a q:
'izzly bear turning over stones and II
for grubs. The bear did not ef
e them, SO Motokis directed his 10 in
hold the horses while he crawled ia
} to kill him. MOtokis circled fl
ound for an approach through the til
ees, but the bear turned and made n,
sudden charge. The boy saw the hf
izzly rise on its hind legs and seize w,
8 father, who fell with the bear til
over him. He did not wait af
nger but rode as fast as he could OF
camp. The men caught their oy
rises and followed the boy to the
ace, where they found Motokis ha
ad. The bear had killed him, and an
IN covering the bidy with dirt, had W
uO away 1ACy lOl1OW0u LuO UCdi an
the edge of the timber but did dr.
dare to go further, fearing that
} grizzly might have supernatural wa
wer. a ,
The Blackfeet firmly believed It
It death came upon Motokis be- the
Use he had not obeyed the Black pa1
be. From that time the Black ms
t believed Long Teeth was endow- car
with supernatural power. When co,
ne of the women saw that their hu,
IS were made easier by his good wa
luence over their men, they said VIII
Black Robes power was very ado
at and advised everyone to obey Oh,
The three clans, Worm People, on
'falo People and Small Robes, wa,
anne his followers and we're ODE It
ut to his teachings. Little Plume, fiel
great wal chief and leader of the the
rm People, was the first man to foil
by him and many people the,
followed his example. the.
Battle With eros Ventres was
When Long Teeth left us and re- hid
led to the Flatheads, he sent two alw
Robes Ipriests) to take his ever
e. We named one of them Scar Att