The Kevin review. [volume] (Kevin, Mont.) 1922-1929, 1924-09-25
WHITES JOIN WITH
SELFISH INDIANS IN
BIG CELEBRATION
ANNIVERSARY OF THE SIGNING
OF PEACE TREATIES is OBJ
SERVED BY FLATHEADS
Trophies are Hung on the Famous
Medicine Tree, The Noted Historic
Landmark; A Sacred Custom OF
The Selfish Tribes.

The traditions Of the Selfish
of FIathead Indians were recently
upheld when they gathered with
their white brothers at Medicine
Tree, historic landmark Of the up
per Bitter Root valley, to commem-
crate the signing of peace treaties
in years gone by.
Medicine Tree is an ancient yellow
pine held in sacred regard by tn,
remnants of the Selfish tribe. Jus
above the tree a ledge of rock stand.
out in rough outline against the
hills. One large rock closely re
sembles the head of an Indian chic.
and though it has been carved only
by the Great Sculptor, the red mer
regard is as a medicine man anC
link it with the old tree in the leg.
ends of their tribe.
For many years, they followed the
custom of hanging trophies on the
tree in Difference to the medicine
man and the powers Of the Great
Spirit. Beads strung in many pat
terms, gay blankets and bright
feathers were hung on the old tree,
making it resemble a primitive
Christmas tree in it's gayety.
The story of the tree as related
by Peter Pichette, the historian of the
Selfish tribe, tells of an ancient bat
tie between a good coyote and a
wicked mountain sheep. The boast
ing ram came to grief when he I'M
dertook to show the coyote how his
strength excelled. The ram butted
the tree with such force that one
horn was imbedded in the tree,
thereby holding the sheep a prisoner
until death relieved him.
The horn of the sheep remained in
the tree for many yeacs, according
to legend until some vandal remov-
ed it. Old timers vouch for hav-
ing seen the horn in the tree years
ago, though they are perhaps skepti-
cal as to the manner Of it's attach
ment to the tree. At any rate they
now point to a seal on the old tree
which they say grew over where the
horn once was imbedded
Martin Charlo, now chief of the
tribe, is 68 years of age and one of
the few full-bloods of the Selfish
tribe, which now numbers about 500
persons. The tribe is dwindling and
the ways of the white man have not
proved the best medicine" for many
of their red brothers.
The old Indians sometimes grow
sad when they speak of former pres
tige and grandeur. Instead of the
hunting ground which formerly pro-
vided their main sustenance, the red
men must now work farms and
gather fruit planted by the white
man Tbnu to1xo ind1r ~ tha uorI |
however, and each summer finds
them camping in the valley, a val
liable asset to the apple and straw
berry grower, or they are patient,
workers. The strawberry
field hold no terrors of backache for
the red man who is accustomed to
keeping close to mother earth.
The name of Flathead for the In
dams who now live on what is known
the Flathead Indian reservation,
Is incorrect, according to the tribal
historian. They are the original
Selfish Indians and the term "Flat-
head" was applied to them by the
explorers, Lewis and Clark, who
they were of the Oregon
,ribe, which shaped the heads of the
by application of a board to
infant skull.
The formal observance of the old
was revived two years ago
Ind the old settlers of the Bitter
Root valley joined the Indians in a
wo day celebration. This "a re-
'eated last year and the program in 1
luded a speech by Princess White
elk, a klamath Indian woman who
since died. More than 1000
visited the historic medicine !
rec at the ceremonies.