The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1924-09-25

The traditions of the Selfish
of Flathead 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 the
remnants of the Selfish tribe. Just
above the tree a ledge of rock stands
out in rough outline against the
hills. One large rock closely re-
sembles the head of an Indian chief
and though it has been carved only
by the Great Sculptor, the red men
regard is as a medicine mar and
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 its 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
hnVT1 uyno fTao hA11A1 - 49, TO-
thereby holding the sheep a prisoner
until death relieved him.
The horn of the sheep remained in
the tree for many Yeas, according
to legend until some vanda1 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 name of it's attach
ment to the tree. At any rate they
now point to a C a 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. They take kindly to the work, l
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, :
5~ireless workers. The strawberry |
field hold no terrors of backache for
red man who is accustomed to I
keeping close to mother earth. I
The name of Flathead for the In :,
1ians who now live on what is known |
Is the Flathead Indian reservation, 1
S incorrect, according to the tribal r
historian. They are the original 7
selfish Indians and the term 'Flat- r
lead" was applied to them by the l
explorers, Lewis and Clark, who 1
bought they were of the Oregon Q
ribe, which shaped the heads of the 2
by application of a board to
he infant skull. t
The formal observance of the old t.
custom was revived two years ago L
nd the old settlers of the Bitter .
root valley Joined the Indians in a I
wo day celebration. This was re- "
Gated last year and the program in n
luded a speech by Princess White d
Tx, a klamath Indian woman who
as since died. More than 1000 /,
eople visited the historic medicine 9
rec at the ceremonies. tt
al