Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1938-11-12

! Maggie Jackson Chouquette and he1
/ sister gave party and feast for q
/ number Of her friends Of the Black
/ feet reservation at her ranch on Cut
/ Bank creek north Of Browning.
Among the guests we're Chief White
Calf and wife. Bill Shoots, Black
Weasel, Takes Gun on Top, Rides at
! the Door. Young Chief Eagle, Dusty
Bull, Three Calves and wife, Louis
Mad Wolf, James Little Plume, In
terpreter and others comprising a
gathering Of so or more. Mr.. and Mrs.
Whitmire Of the Cut Bank school, Mr..
GoSs and daughter. neighbors and L.
j. Howard Of Choteau were also guests.
The Maggie Chouuuette ranch on
Cut Bank creek is located on the early
day north trail from Helena to Fort
Mcleod. The ranch belongs to William
Jackson, a noted scout and pioneer
among the Blackfeet. Bill Jackson was
the father of Maggie Chouquette and
her sister. Their mother was. known
as White Antelope, though their
mothers real name was Two Guns
Woman. Jackson saw service with
Custer and escaped death in Clusters
last battle In 1875 with the Sioux on
the Little Big Horn because previous
TO the engagement he was sent by
Custer for help He died at the age Of
so years at midnight, Dec 81. 1899.
It was at this ranch and in the
same home Of Maggie Chouquette that
q number Of early-day councils with
representatives Of the Blackfeet were
held. including the three-day deliber-
atoms in the late nineties to determine
whether certain rights to the noun
tain areas to the west we're to be coded
by the Blackfeet to the white man.
Among those attending the council
80 years ago were George Bird Grin
nell of New York, william Jackson,
and George Cook, all now
dead. 1t is said there are only a few
survivors Of Blaclfeet who attended
this council Of negotiations. Oliver |
Day Rider and James White Calf are
known as survivors.
Many Stories Told
Many interesting stories were told |
1t Maggie Chouquette's feast in honor |
If her venerable guests and old timers /
# the Blackfeet country. some Of |
which may have been told before in
his, the William Jackson home, half
! century ago. Traditions that per-
aimed to the origin of the Blackfeet
we're related and accounts were told
Il early-day wars and battles with op-
)oSing tribes or war and horse stealing
'arties that attempted to encroach on
ands claimed by the Blackfeet.
Bill Shoots gave his version Of the
irst Blackfeet Indian Scareface or
'oia, who assembled into the heavens
Without death, as this legend had been
old him by his grandfather. The
atter-day Scareface was known as
Red Man." who did many wonderful
Kings before his death as the result
smallpox He was buried on Priest
ute near what Is now the town of
hoteau, known in early days to the
indians as Four Persons.
Young Chief Eagle, now over 80,
Did about battle In which he took q
rominent part IS years ago Just below
here Cut Bank river empties into the
Larias, the latter being called the !
ret warriors were killed, including
upreme Chief, Iron Shield, Ancient
alt and Short Chief. OF the wounded,
hief Eagle Calf, who was not quite
years old and at the time with his
rst war party; Chief Eagle Feathers
no died a few years ago, and Chief
agile Talk survived. Young Chief
agile was shot through the body from
Is right to his left side and lay I'M
,nscious through the last of the
attic. The Crees were finally put to
kAAAb. 4A4C 1AdCkACCb NACbO44~
IS and many Cree warriors were
lund killed. Because the Blackfeet !
arriors had q way Of tieing the tails /
their horses, they were nicknamed I
? the Crees people of many bobtail
)rses." /
Wouldn't Bury Dead
In early-day wars between opposing I
ibes 1t was mutually agreed among Il
parties not to bury the dead of S
sher side and they generally did not /
Ike war prisoners. Only in cases where /
battle occurred near home did rela- s
res or friends of the killed bury
ern. Scalping the dead of the enemy v
lginated in the desire Of the warriors O
possess some tangible proof to sub y
antiate their claims TO prowess and a
)ries of their encounters with the r
envy upon their return home. 1t was Il
It done with an idea Of cruelty or s.
1erwise. c
Black Weasel gave an account Of an
citing battle between Blackfeet and q
.os Ventres, known as the big n
lilies" There were many battles be- r
cen the Blackfeet and tribes con- "
lered encroachtng on Blackfeet II
ads. This battle occurred beyond
at was Blaclrfeet territory at that
1e. beyond the MANY Cornered n
ok" or the stream Lewis and Clark L
led and is now known as Milk river. b
q Cypress hills battle occurred In "a