INDIANS DISCOVERING LEWIS AND CLARK Oil Painting by C. M. Russell Montana Historical Society, Mackay Collection THE LEWIS AND CLARK TRAIL HERITAGE FOUNDATION, INC. President Incorporated 1969 under Missouri General Not-For-Profit Corporation Act IRS Exemption Certificate No. 501 (C)(3) - Identification No. 51-0187715. Montague~s OFFICERS - EXECUTIVE COMMITIEE President 1st Vice President 2nd Vice President message H. John Montague Donald F. Nell Robert K. Doerk, Jr. 2928 N.W. Verde Vista Terrace P.O. Box577 P.O. Box 50ll Portland, OR 97210 Bozeman, MT 59715 Great Falls, MT 59403 Edrie Lee Vinson, Secretary John E. Walker, Treasurer 1405 Sanders 200 Market St., Suite 1177 Helena, MT 59601 Portland, OR 97201 By any measure, the 19th Annual Meeting Marcia Staigmiller, Membership Secretary of the Lewis and Clark Trail Heritage Foun­ RR 4433; Great Falls, MT 59401 dation was a resounding success. Sincere DIRECTORS thanks and commendations seem inadequate Ruth Backer James R. Fazio Ralph H. Rudeen in reviewing the efforts by our hosts, John Cranford, NJ Moscow, ID Olympia, WA and Pat Foote. They presented a wonderful opportunity to pursue the objectives of the Raymond L. Breun Harry Fritz Arthur F. Shipley St. Louis, MO Missoula, MT Bismarck, ND Foundation. During the visits to the expedi­ tion campsites and the float trip down the Patti A. Thomsen Malcolm S. Buffum James P. Ronda Waukesha, WI Yellowstone River, one could empathize with Portland, OR Youngstown, OH Captain Clark and his party as they pro­ Winifred C. George John E. Foote, Immediate Past President ceeded down the Yellowstone River to its St. Louis, MO Billings, MT 59102 confluence with the Missouri and their return journey to St. Louis. ABOUT THE FOUNDATION Next year's 20th Annual Meeting in Bis­ The purpose of the Lewts and Clark Trail Heritage Foundation, Inc., is to stimulate public Interest in matters relating to the lewis and Clark Expedition, the contributions to American history ma.de by the expedition members, and mark, N.D., should continue to provide a events of time and plKe concerning the expedition which are of historical Import to our natjon. The Foundation wealth of firsthand experiences for Lewis and recognizes the value of tourist-oriented programs, and supports activities which enhance the enjoyment and under· standing of the lewis and Clark story. The scope of the activities of the Foundation is broad and diverse, and includes Clark enthusiasts. The host for the Annual Involvement in pursuits which, In the judgment of the directors, are of hlstorlcal worth or contemporary social value, and commensurate with the heritage of lewis and Clark. The activities of the N8tional Foundation are intended to Meeting-the Sakakawea Chapter-is plan­ complement and supplement those of state and local Lewis and Clark Interest groups. The Foundation may approprl· ately recognize and honor lndlvldunls or groups for art works of distlncUon, achievement in the broad field of Lewis ning visits and interpretation at the recon­ and Clark historical research, writing, or deeds which promote the general purpose and scope of activities of the Foundation. Membership In the organization comprises a broad spectrum of Lewis and Clark enthusiasts lncJudlng structed replica of Fort Mandan, and at the Federal, State, and local government offk:lals, historians, 5Cholars and others of wide-ranging Lewis and Clark In· National Park Service's Knife River Indian terests. Officers of the Foundation are elected from the membership. The annual meeting of the Foundation ls tradi­ tionally held during August, the birth month of both Meriwether Lewts and William Clark. The meeting place ls ro· Villages National Historic Site, along with tated among the states, and tours generaUy are arranged to visit sites In the area of the annual meeting which have historic association with the Lewis and Clark Expedition. many other activities- Meeting dates are Aug. 7-10. Make your plans now to visit this beautiful and historic region of America. THE COVER ILLUSTRATION... --i L_r- ~~. __ ., :•J:'.-,·.;-!A~~~. ~P,?rf11t __J We Proceeded On is the official publication of the Lewis and. Clark Trail Heritage Founda­ tion, Inc. The publication's name Is derived from the phrase which appears repeatedly in the collective journals of the famous Expedition. E.G. CHUINARD, M.D., FOUNDER ISSN 0275-6706 Robert A. (Bob) Saindon, Editor Robert E. Lange, Editor Emeritus 172 Briarwood 5054 S.W. 26th Place Helena, MT 59601 Portland, OR 97201 EDITORIAL BOARD Arlen J. Large; Washington, D.C. Editorial Consultant: Gary E. Moulton; Lincoln, NE Vivian A. Paladin James P. Ronda; Youngstown, OH Helena, MT 2 WE PROCEEDED ON NOVEMBER 1987 During the recent Annual Meeting and in recent is­ teered to serve as officers, directors, and committee sues of We Proceeded On, requests were made of members. It is my hope that we and all Foundation members interested in committee appointments to members can work together this year to make the Ex­ make their wishes known. I am grateful to the large plorers' trail and information about it, and the his­ number who responded with their willingness to tory and heritage of the Expedition more informative serve. This membership attitude surely is proof that and enjoyable for those who are to follow. the committee system is alive and well. I only wish each committee request could have ' 'Many times a day I realize how much my own been granted. However, don't be discouraged if you outer and inner life is built upon the labours of were not put on a committee this year. Know that my fellowmen, both living and dead, and how your willingness to volunteer is noted and appreciated · earnestly I must exert myself in order to give in and that we want you to make your interest known return as much as I have received." again next year. Albert Einstein A most encouraging aspect of membership involve­ As the holiday season approaches may its meaning ment in the Foundation is the increased interest in be deeper, its friendships stronger, and its hopes forming new chapters. Four new chapters have been brighter. formed during the last two years and interest has surfaced in two locations in California, and in Wis­ consin, Illinois, South Dakota, Iowa, and Texas. H. JOHN MONTAGUE-President Any members interested in forming a chapter should contact the New Entities Committee. This year, the committee is manned by the Portage Route Chapter with Bob Doerk as coordinator (P.O. Box 5011, Great Falls, MT 59403). Several copies of A H. John Montague Guide For Organizing An Entity are available for your use. The minimum requirements for establishing a Foundation's 19th president chapter are to have at least ten members and two meetings per year. Interest in Lewis and Clark and western history be­ A long-needed dues increase was approved by the gan at an early age for H. John Montague of Port­ Foundation members at this year's Annual Meet­ land, Oregon, the Foundation's new president. Born ing. The publication costs, during the last few years, in North Dakota 44 years ago, John's early years have been higher for the four issues of We Proceeded were spent near the Missouri River at Riverdale, just On than for the price of a general membership. The north of the site of the 1804-1805 winter encampment new general membership dues will be $15 per year of the Expedition at Fort Mandan, and also near the and $42.50 per three years. One of the initial benefits Knife River Indian villages. He was an occasional from the increase will be an official membership pin guest at the ranch of former Foundation director that was approved by the board of directors. This pin Sheila Robinson and her husband, Dave. will be sent to all members in the near future. Unfortunately, the inundation of the Missouri River I have accepted the presidency to serve the Foun­ valley, caused by the construction of Garrison Dam, dation together with other members who have volun- Continued on page 26 ''Indians Discovering Lewis and Russell was born in St. Louis, Mo., in The setting of the scene in this paint­ Clark'' is an oil painting done by west­ 1864, and moved to the wilds of Mon­ ing is not identified, but the theme is ern artist Charles Marion Russell (1864- tana as a young men. He lived a spell characteristically "Russell." 1926) in 1896-only two years after among the Blood Indians of Canada in Russell was eventually to establish his Elliott Coues published a copiously an­ order to better understand their culture art studio in Great Falls, Mont. His notated edition of the 1814 authorized and their sensitivities. He became capa­ work became internationally recognized narrative of the Lewis and Clark Expe­ ble of seeing the white man through the during his lifetime, and he is today dition. Coues's four-volume publication eyes of the Indian . This view was often ranked by many as the greatest artist of gave rise to a new public interest in the reflected in Russell's paintings. Thus, the early American west. expedition, and "Charlie" Russell was for him, it was not Lewis and Clark who "Indians Discovering Lewis and living in the heart of Lewis and Clark discovered the Indians, it was the Indi­ Clark" is in the Mackay Collection, country. ans who discovered Lewis and Clark. Montana Historical Society, Helena, MT NOVEMBER 1987 WE PROCEEDED ON 3 New Documents of Meriwether Lewis by GARY E. MOULTON The various editions of the Lewis and Clark journals have been tied in some way to the dis­ covery or use of new documents from the expedition.