Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1928-05-11
BLAGKFEET INDIANS ARE RECOGNIZED AS
THE A~RIST0gRATS OF NATIVE AMERICANS

TIME picturesque Blackfeet Indians are
a source Of never ending interest TO
Il visitors 10 Glacier park. Some other
tribes have more interesting arts and
crafts. but none have finer physiques,
more fame as warriors, more beautiful
legends. finer traditions or more roman
tic names. The Blackfeet are very near
iy, II not quite. the aristocrats OF the
native Americans.
When the buffalo scent piece was de-
signed. it was decided TO portray an IN
dian head on the reverse side. Ihose
who know the Blackfeet were not sur
Drised when a Blackfeet chieftain was
chosen MS the model.
The prowess II bravery of the Black
feet in battle are traditional. Few trap
pers. explorers. explorers or traders dared
to enter the domain ruled by their war
riors. Consequently, other sections OF
the great west were explored long before
the Blackfeet country.
The Blackfeet are by nature nomads.
They followed the buffalo in its nigra-
lions. this animal providing food, CLOTH
ing and shelter. Jerked buffalo meat
was a staple article of diet. Buffalo skins
provided clothing and covering ior te-
PEGS. The Blackfeet have had a dihicult
time adjusting themselves to modern
CO0QlIlOlS Dut NUN HlNHttno -@9
made in recent years. They have taken
to farming. grazing of cattle and sheep
and now operate their own saw n hour
mills.
The older Blackfeet are named for
their exploits in battle or in the chase,
unusual incidents in their lives or per-
sonal characteristics. Typical Of names
are Two Guns White Calf. Heavybreast,
Mountain Chief. Curly Bear, Wades in
Water, Many Tailfeathers, Sam Lazy Boy,
william S-hootsanother Little Bear. Run
ning Crane, Blacksnake Threeguns, Many
Hides. John Kicking Woman, Medicine
Snake. Mary No Coat, Jeanette Bad
Marriage. Mary Rides At The Door. Mag
gle Notwithstanding.
Names given by the Blackfeet to lakes,
mountains and the like are always de-
~scriptive. The Blackfeet erected a medi-
cine lodge on the shores Of a lake. The
Blood Indians, members of the Black
feet confederacy. erected a medicine
lodge nearby. The lake was m "
Medicine Lodges lake. which has been
shortened to Two Medicine lake. Ac-
cording to Blackfeet legend, when the
tribe was near starvation. the Great
Spirit sent his son, who led the way to
an immense buffalo herd and prosperity
returned to the Blackfeet and there was
great rejoicing. The visitor returned TO
his father, who lived in the sun, by
ascending a mountain. This mountain
was named Going to the Sun.
Upon arriving at. Glacier Park station,
visitors will notice Blackfeet tepees on
the hotel grounds, where a number OF
braves and squaws live in the summer
time. These are carefully selected In
dians. whose behavior has been above
reproach. Unruly Indians, and they are
comparatively few in number, are not
permitted to leave the reservation. The
Blackfeet highway leading from Glacier
park to the Canadian boundary. a dis
lance of SO miles, is entirely within the
Blackfeet reservation. From this high
way. spurs lead into the park to points
of unusual interest. The Blackfeet high
way is also the approach road to the
Prince of Wales hotel in Waterton Lakes
park. Alta. Travellers over this highway
will find the Blackfeet interesting.
Many Blackfeet are employed by Gla-
cier park as laborers on road mainten-
ance crews. A large number are also
employed as guides by the Park Saddle
Horse