The Bozeman courier. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1919-1954, 1926-05-28
lRv Mrs. M. E. PhAssMAN)

NA1N NAANOe AAa Ae
mo attempt the conversion of the
RIackfeet was altogether a diff
ferent proposition from that in
volved in carrying the message of
Christianity to the Flatheads, who
had been somewhat prepared for its
~receptiOn by Catholic IrOquOis living
with the Flatheads, and who had urg-
emily requested that the "Black
Robes be sent to them. The Flat
heads had the reputation, also, of
being friendly to the whites. Not so
the BIackfeet, who were dreaded
more by the whites than any other
tribe in the Northwest. Father De-
Smet was himself anxious to avoid
meeting them while crossing the
Plains.
While it is true that the Blackfeet
or some of them-had asked that
q mission be established among them,
the motives actuating the petitioners
were open to question, according to
the reports of the missionaries, who
said the Indians believed baptism
acted as a charm, to protect them in
times of peace, and render them vic
tOriOus over their enemies. 1t was
a new kind of medicine" they
thought more ~efficaciOus than any
they had formerly employed.
Father Point, who was extremely
conscientious, refused to bapt1Ze all
who desired to have the rite admin
istered, as he did not consider they
fully grasped the significance of the
ceremony including its obligations.
He says of their regarding baptism as
as mascot, ''This explains why some
of these wretches, who seek only the
lives of their neighbOrs, were the
first to petition for baptism" The
Blackfeet looked upon the sign of the
cross with the same generation they
felt in respect to baptism, and it is
claimed PrOtestants knowing this,
saved their lives in a few instances,
by crossing themselves. Like all
primitive people, the Indians were
impressed by forms, and the less they
understood them, the more they were
impressed.
1t was Father Point who laid the
foundation for mission work among
the Blackfeet in 1916, but he re-
manned with them only a few months
1t was not until 1859 the JesUitS
sought to establish a permanent mis-
sion.
It was through the request of the
Indian Agent, Major Vaughn, thai
Father HOecken was sent to the
BIackfeet in the spring of 1859. Tha'
summer his labOrs were confined tt
the Indian camps, which he followed
from place to place in hteir migra
tiOns, studying the Blackfeet Ian
guage and customs, and trying t,
find a site for his permanent location
He decided this should be near tn
present town of ChOteau, and her
he and an accompanying brOthe
put up three log cabins. Later h
was Joined by Father ImOda. Due t.
some unexplained reason this sit
was abandoned for the banks of tn
Sun river, where two log cabins wer
erected.
There was a suspension of opera
lions in 1851, but the next year Faith
er GiOrda and Father ImOda were or
dered to take up the work. The.
were to spend the winter in Fort Ben
ton, teaching the Indians in the vic
unity, and selecting another mission
site.
During this time of preparation
Father GiOrda started out with an in
terpreter to visit the eros Ventres
On the way there he had an adven
tUre, which Father PaIladino appreC
latiyely describes:
Gle fell in with a band of wal
riOr's Of Bull Dogs camp, one of tn
chiefs of the tribe, and he and hi
companion were both made prisoner
The latter, however, managed to es