The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1941-07-03

indians Surprised by
"Ssookun Squs~"
Mother heAllister Made
New Code al NisqusIly
Fsnily First 10 Come
After Wilkes Celebration
JAMES MoALLISTER and
y family. first white family to
settle IN the Nisquslly country
after the Wilkes-Richmond
Fourth Of July celebration in
1s41. had an unusual and in
teresting experience. They were
fortunate in being taken under
the wing Of Leschi. chief Of the
Niseually tribe and were both
loved and feared by the Indians.
Because the head Of the house
vas away working at his land
clearing from can to can't
from first daylight when you
can see until dark when you
eant) most OF the familys con-
facts with the Indians was
through Mother McAllister. a
woman who knew her rights
and vas prepared to defend
them. She cared FOR the In
dams when they were sick but
woe unto them II they attempt
ed to infringe on her rights She
became known as a "skookum
squaw.'
The Indians first learned this
when a pair of them attempted
10 loot one Of the wagons when
Mother McAllister had been
left alone with the three small
est children. Discovering one
OF the Indians crawling head
first into the wagon. she grab
bed = short tent pole and be-
bored him numerically.
Caught at disadvantage with
his head and shoulders inside
the wagonbox and the remand
er OF his body on the outside,
there was nothing for the In
dian to do but take it until she
was out of breath.
Another experience with In
dams occurred just after the
first McAllister house on the
Nisqually was completed. All
the Indians, from Chief Leschi
down. were friendly with the
family. and it was not unusual
for them to drop in at the Nc
Allister camp as they pleased.
When the family moved into
the house. the Indians assumed
that the same relations would
be continued, and were amazed
when they were told that they
must not enter without knock
ing. Mother McAllister explain
ed that II was the custom
among white people always to
knock before entering snother's
home. She told them that II
they were going to associate
with white people they should
conform to white manners and
customs.
Some of the Indians couldn't
understand that philosophy.
They wanted to know why IL
wasn't just as logical for the
whites coming into the Indian
country TO conform TO Indian
customs. Right there they
touched on the head and center
from which emanated most of
the trouble between the whites
and Indians. The white man
assumed To force his customs
on the Indians and adopted none
Of theirs.
This question gave opportuni-
" for another demonstration Of
Mother McAllisters proves
that might have had serious re-
suits. An Indian from another
tribe visiting the Nisquallies
wanted 10 see the white
squaw' and the big house. The
inequalities cautioned him about
knocking at the door. but he
was like some of the young
white bucks OF a later day who
know everything and scorn ad-
vice An Indian did not knock
before entering the abode Of one
of his own people. so why should
the white man. who had come
unlimited into the Indian country
demand It?
With that idea in his head.
the Indian started 10 visit the
white squaw" in the big house.
He tried the door. and finding