The Glasgow courier. [volume] (Glasgow, Mont.) 1913-current, 1942-04-02

lAACJ NNAC 6ACob PCNPAS @tNASS
and brave in war time, kind and
gentle with their children, keen
hunters, respectful Of the old and
wise and with a tradition of social
customs and gatherings that makes
any eastern -Four Hundred" seem
like mere upstairs.
This is the story of a prairie ma
ton, the ASsiniboine Indians, as it
is told in Land Of Nakcda" by two
CT them. Both are residents of OS-
wego, in eastern Valley county. One
is James L. Long, or First Boy in
the ASsiniboine, chronicler of this
authentic story Of the life of his
people. 1t is illustrated by William
Standing, who has several names,
cognomenS is Fire Bear.
Standing adds, 1T makes 10 diff
ferance to me. If people want me
mans way and buy more that is
all right. But I'd rather be Fire
Bear"
Background Authentic
Land of Nakoda' was written and
published under sponsorship of the
WPA writers project. 1t is unique
not only because it is a remarkable
and dramatic story but because it
is probably more authentic than any
other document about this North
American plains tribe. First Boy has
recorded the stories of the Old Men,
who spoke only in the native tongue.
No white writer could hope to have
such accurate material or interpret
it in the light of a lifetime of ex-
per1ence with the Assinibcine. The
same background is apparent in
more than 100 original drawings by
Fire Bear.
People OF northeastern Montana
are apt to think of the AssiniboineS
as a local tribe. That is not so.
On the west its boundaries ran to
the foothills of the Rockies, to the
land of the Blackfoot. East, the
tribesmen lived beyond the Red
River of the north and north they
ranged past Lake winnipeg. There
were many bands, SO in all, COM
prising the nation, such as the
Gophers, Moldy People, Bone Clean
ers, Bone Clippers, East People,
Missouri River Dog Band, People of
the Cold, Strangers, owners Of
Sharp Knives, Paddlers and People |.
of the North.
Ethnology can be a dry subject.
But not in this book. 1t is a living
moving story and when one has fin
ished he concludes that these people
led a happy existence, n wisely
geared to the prairie country. Every
phase is touched-from tribal life
to lodges, food and games, from
courtship and marriage to cere-
monies and societies.
Advice To LovelOrn ,
For example, the counsel a grand '
father gives a young man who is T
casting an eye at the manageable
girls of the band. :
Before you do this, look over the
maidenS among our people and make
up your mind to one. I would advise !
that you dc not pick cut n who
is too much for looks and has a c
good figure. Remember, if such a
one gains favor in your eyes she will
also attract other men and even r
though she sits beside you as your G
woman, men will continue to admire !
her just the anne. +
THE relatives of your choice
should be looked v e to see if her Y
men relations 7 good providers, r
Alu1lCSIo, CI4Q Iltll VIII dlC i
well known. If her mother is neat {
and industrious, the daughter will \
be like her"
You must turn these things ever I
your mind many times when some
yood-to-look-at young woman tries
to charm you. You may think you
have made a good choice and want
10 hurry the marriage, but remem-
nor IN toEn N-O11r time hnR11ICn tho -
me you pick may cause you to live
/ miserable life. you may find your r.
elf living in a siX-hide lodge dor F
he poorest people, on the outskirts 81
If an encampment. The clothes you
wear may be poorly made and the S
'kinS half tanned. Many other h
Kings may make your heart
leaVy 49," a.
People of Affection D
BY changing a few words this P
be the heart-to-heart talk of r
modern so and father. 1t is sig e.
lificant that with the Assiniboines,
he grandparents took a major part S
n raising the young. The parents
but were left free to provide Sc
he livelihood. 1t was rare for child al
EN- to be punished; there was deep sc
Election between young and old.
Finally, the book takes up the er
since the coming of the white
nan, not all of it a pleasant story.
he varying ideas of reservation
gents are related. Some were
God and some were bad, Almost all eli
'ere confusing to the Indians" NOW ds
n irrigation project near Oswego ell
in operation. This with improve ell
lent cf the lands and a rehabilit- M
ton program, looks promising for
ne tribe, which now has become
lore accustomed to the white mans m
ay." Is.
The author was bern near Os- or
ego in 1888. "My father, James A. m