Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1937-01-09
By HARLEY RANSOM


In the Bitter Root mountains OF
southwestern Montana, IL miles
south Of Darby on the scenic Inter-
national Parks highway, grows the
Selfish medicine tree, large yellow
pine which stands close 70 the road
between the sheer cliffs Of the
mountains and the deep gorge Of
the East Fork of the Bitter Root
I river. For many years large num-
bers Of the Selfish (Flathead) tribe
assembled here 10 commemorate the
tribal tradition Of this historic tree.
In days gone by Indians passing
pver the trail between the Salmon
river country Of Idaho and the Bitter
Root valley stopped to hang offerings
o the Great Spirit on the tree and to
lSneel In its shade to pray for special
blessings. Above the tree on the noun
ainside are the profiles Of several hui
nan faces which are quite large and
ife-like. They may be seen plainly
rom the road that passes the base Of
he tree.
The age-old home Of the Selfish tribe
tas the Bitter Root valley which takes
is name from the Selfish word "spet-
temen," meaning place of the root"
hey were never a large tribe, num-
bring but 700 when the first white
Missionaries visited them in 1888 The
Seish subsisted mainly on fish, game,
wild roots and berries. In the early
sumner they dug the bitter-root and
canas and dried them for winter use.
Inlate summer they gathered in bark
ba.kets the huckleberTy and service
berry. Beyond pemmican (dried berries
pounded up with meat), and dried
buffalo meat, they provided little flesh
foot for winter use. Clothing and
teeIes we're fashioned from the skins
of buffalo, moose, elk, deer and bea-
YER. They we're a peaceful tribe, never
aggressive and never provoking trouble.
In tribal disputes they fought only in
selfdefense.
Heaven a Perpetual Summer
The Selfish believed in a Good Spirit
and Bad Spirit. It was their belief
that the good Indian when he died
went to q country Of perpetual sum-
mer where he met his wife and children
and where game was always plentiful. |
The bad Indian was doomed to pass
to q land of perpetual ice and snow, |
where shivering he would see fire, and |
thirsty he would see lakes and streams
forever beyond his reach.
There are numerous Selfish legends |
and in many Of them Coyote" is the |
leading factor. FHlll-blood SelishanS, !
these legends always de- /
scribe Coyote as wise and cunning, |
with q sharp face and nose and puck
cred lips. They do not know whether |
he was great brave or an animal.
The Selfish legend of the medicine
rec is that the Great Spirit once said
20 Coyote: GO forth and discover all
he evils that prey on human beings.
rotect all the tribes from these evils.
fully grant you power to do so. Be
elpful to those that need help and
hey will in turn reward you with
indness."
One day when Coyote had come over
be mountain from the country Of the
Iver of great salmon and was going
own the rugged trail to the country
Topped on something which cried out,
Oil You have stepped on me. You
ave hurt my leg. / was about to warn
Oh of some great danger which Is very
ear, but as you have Injured me, l
i'll not"
Coyote looked down and saw a little
lffed grouse on the ground suffering
ON a broken leg. ooh, said Coyote,
[ did not mean it. Do not cry. will
cal it for you"
Coyote Outwitted
Coyote drew the bubbling water of
nearby hot spring and in it stepped
lie root of the husk-kus plant and
her herbs and bathed the injured
g. Then he wrapped it in fresh green
ayes and bound it with sinews of elk.
"Well now, listen" said the grouse.
little further on, by the great rock
ountain, you viii hear someone call
e you. It is the wicked mountain ram
no stops everyone passing over the
all from the country of the great SAL
on river to the place of the bitter
ct. He does great harm and Is very
,werful and quick. When you meet
nd, Trask tried to make the chief pay
m for them, and said that he
unned" him every time he met him
r wears Afterwards. but that he never |