Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1938-04-09
STATE HAD FEW
HONEST INDIANS
NEE PIERCE WERE AMONG TRIBES
WHOSE WORD COULD BE
RELIED ON
These Redskins Were First Met In
1904 by Captain Lewis Of the Lewis
and Clark Expedition on Their Trip
Across the Continent.

The Nee Perez Indians were first
met by Captain Lewis Of the Lewis
and Clark expedition across the
continent in 1904. When the expe-
ditiOn got as far as what Is now
called the Beaverhead river in
Montana, Captain Lewis met Cam
ewai, then chief of this tribe Of
Indians. When Sacajawea, who
pilOted the way for Lewis and
Clark, met Camewai ON the Beaver
head river, she discovered he was
her brother. She had been captured
In this section of the country when
a small chiId--and taken to Fort
Union, where she afterward mar
ried a French breed. From Fort
Union she had led the Lewis and
Clark expedition back TO the
country where she was born.
It was by her influence that horses
were sold the whites by Camewai The
expedition travelled from the Beaver
head to the head waters of the Bitter
Root river, down this river to Lolo
creek, thence to the head waters Of
the Clearwater river to its mouth at
Lewiston, where city is now located.
There the horses were left in the care
Of the Nez Perez and boats we're used
to float down the Snake to its mouth;
thence down the Columbia to The
Dalles; thence to the mouth Of the
Columbia, where Lewis and Clark spent
the winter.
The Nez Perez tribe of Indians, or
ig1nally occupied the entire country
from the mouth of the Clearwater
river Called Lewis river, to the Walla
Walla country.
Honest Indians
These Indians were highly praised
taxy nxrfc G1oxsb 10
theft, and whose word could be relied
on.
When Lewis and Clark, on their re-
turn trip from the coast reached
Lewiston, they found the horses they
had left in. charge of the Indians were
well taken care Of, and every one was
turned back to its owner.
When this vast unsettled country
over which the Indians formerly hunt
ed became occupied, the Nez Perez
Indians we're allotted a reservation on
certain lands in Idaho.
To Hunt Buffalo
It was a custom for these Indians
every fall to make a hunting trip to-
what was then the Sioux country in
eastern Montana, to lay in q supply of
buffalo meat. They followed the same
trail made by Lewis and Clark to the
headwaters Of the Bitter Root river,
Lnence up the BiacktooC river, Jnence
through the Deer Lodge valley to the
Madison river and the home Of the
buffalo.
It was in the month Of June, 1874,
when looking north from the town of
Deer Lodge, one could see Indians APP
preaching in squads of IS or more,
riding fine looking horses.
At about 10 o'clock g. m, there had
assembled 1900 Nez Perez in this
village. One could notice q large, dis
but hatleSS Indian riding an
Alapoose stallion at the head of the
The first house the Indians
approached was the station for the fire
the chief Of this depart
ment, an old Indian trader, was in
charge. He could speak Chinook. He
saluted the rider and called him Chief
Joseph. This was the man who led the
Indians IN after years In the Nez Perce
war from the reservation in Idaho to |
the British lines In northern Montana. |
Chief Joseph talked with the chief |
Of the fire department., who took no.
tice Joseph was hatless. and who gave |
him one Of the waterproof hats worn |
BY the captain Of this department. |
Chief Joseph told the captain he would !
bring him buffalo tongues when he