The Glacier reporter. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1953-current, 1959-05-14
"Yes Mary. have plenty of
time and will 10 with YOU"

The crippled woman's name
was Annie Calf Looking For
Smoke, but most people called
them just Calf Looking. Mary had
preceded me into the lodge and
was sitting next to the head of
the lodge when went In. The
head of the lodge Is straight
across from the door where the
chief or the head of the house
sits. The head seat was vacant. |
was asked by Mary to take that
seat.
Knowing that q visitor was not
supposed to sit there. I l,esitated
q moment.
That's all right" said Mary,
you be the head Of the house."
why sure. II that's your WISH"
| said as sat down. There were
four elderly men and six women,
including Mary's mother. sitting
around the lodge on pallets. Mary
spoke first.
These old people. whom you
know. have asked me to do the
talking for them. We already
know what l am to say. II | say
something that doesn't suit them
they can speak up"
Then Mary began: "a lot Of
people on the reservation know
you. They have known many
white men. They have been ruled
by white men. since before | was
born. They have seen some good
ones and some not so good There
have been number of agents
here since Major Stcclc's time.
which too. was before | was born.
and all Of them seem to have the
same idea: do as little as they
can and get all the credit in Wash.
ingtOn they can. They do what
they have to for US. and the res,
Of the time all they do is sit
around in the Agency in those
big fine houses that the Indians
money built. or ride around in
government, cars. They do just as
little as they possibly can and
then tell you how much and hOw
hard they have to work
we don't think much Of any Of
them. but We can't do anything
about it Some white people are
so selfish. they want every. hing
They like the Indian as long as
he has money. then they don,
like him They like to come over
here and watch the Indian parade
and say. Aren't they funny look
ing creatures. or some other fool
thin. like that The Older Indians
like TO h. noticed just the same
as anyone else They like 10 m'
recognized as h'in. human. just
the same as the white people
White people always ask Us {"
put on our fine clothes and pa.
rade for them hut do they ever
parade for u.s. That is why these
old Indians asked you 70 come III
here today you didn't !"rs",
them. In this camp there are
many who could not go 10 iowr
% see il They could not scc IL.
hey thought. the parade was for
the selfish whites They w"r"
wrong. the white chic: Of the
parade. O.Mo. Kaiyo. did no; f..
gel them. lie came her" - our
camp with all the riders and p,.
rad'd for all Uf us Who are c:Ip
pied and old and could no, 80 Ia
:""n There Is M wonder. q No
Eaiyo. that all the Indians vote
or you Hou understand the
heart IL the Indian That Is all
v" wanted you 10 know tina. We
are grateful! to the white man.
"hcI he thinks Of us you are no,
stuck up. you are 4 friend "f IN"
little man. The Indian like you
for H." Mary finished
! thanked them for the 20, Il
words which they had said Ia mr
and went out
Paint" ! said To my faithful
Appclt'oScy horse who was wat
IN. for me-. you are tired and
you can rest rs soon as We 80,
home I climbed on him. and
how he did strut going ihrough
the Indian village. Once out Of
camp and on my way home I was
thinking. The white man has
known the Indian for long time
nut oh. how little he has learned
bout him"
THE END