Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1932-02-18
PIEGAN INDIANS
WORRIED IN 1872
COUNCIL WAS HELD WITH LITTLE
WOLF TO DISCUSS COMING OF
NORTHERN PACIFIC
BY ALBERT PARTOLL
HTITH THE coming of the railroads


NITH THE coming OF the railroads
Wv to the far west. the range Of the
buffalo herds was gradually re-
stricted and hunting ground of the In
dian reduced In area. These changes
worried Indians, including some In
Montana. In 1872 a special council was
held with Piegan Indians at Black
foot agency. The meeting was Aug. 9
and Felix r. Brunot, chairman of the
board of Indian commissioners, dis
cussed the coming Of the Northern Pa
cific railroad, then just pushing west
and making route surveys.
1t was the desire of The visiting dele
cation of United States Indian officials
to have the Indians show friendly feel
ings toward the railroad and to hav1
an agreement whereby the railroaders
would not be molested- II the Indians
realized that the railroad would ruin
their civilization more quickly than any
other n factor. then there would bo
conflict. Non-resistance TO the iron
horse" that would Danish game, deprive
the Indians Of their hunting. clothing
and shelter, was sought by peaceful
council
The council was held with Little
VOLTS band OF Piegans, numbering be-
tween 800 and 400 Indians. Among
those present was Knakapice little
Wolf, second chief of the Piegans,
Neenastok tChief Mountainl. Neenan-
astama uOdgepole chief. A~koksowatee
Screaming Owl, subchiefs and other
headmen OF the tribe.
Commissioner Brunot wanted peace-
full relationship between the redman
and the whites even If the whites bad
failed to live up to all treaty provisions
of former councils. Knowing that an
ticipation of benefit often is the blind
for damage, Brunot painted the com
ing Of the railroad as something sPe-
cially beneficial to the Indian. He said
Il am going away today TO Wash
ington. It would take m ii I went
ON a horse, three months to get there.
ii I went day and night But the
Great Father has steamboats, and a
road of iron, with Steam-running on
it The Sioux and the Utes and many
Indians live along the iron road. Some
OF them are minding the words OF the
Great Father and the wagons ON the
iron road bring flour, coffee and sugar
for them to eat, blankets TO sleep I'm
der and sshite mems clothes TO wear
The Great Father Is going to have
another iron road that viii s0on come
along the Missouri or the Yellowstone
Some Indians say that they do not
want 1t to come but they are foolish.
for the Great Father Is going to make
this road and it viii bring food and
blankets to the Indians who are do
ing right. II you ever hear Of any In
dams who say they want you to help
them stop the Great Fathers road. tell
them they are foolish; that they might
as well try to stop the rivers or over
turn the big mountains They canno<
stop it, for the Great Father is going
to make it and the Indians who help
him win get plenty Of goods by It."
MI. BrunOt q the consent OF the
Piegan band to tell the Great Father
at washington, as the president va
known to the Indians, that they were
in favor OF the coming Of the railroad
Thus another step ! n the making OF the
west was assured q good start.