University of Montana ScholarWorks at University of Montana Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers Graduate School 1990 Mountain in his memory| Frank Bird Linderman, his role in acquiring the Rocky Boy Indian Reservation for the Montana Chippewa and Cree, and the importance of that experience in the development of his literary career Celeste River The University of Montana Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.umt.edu/etd Let us know how access to this document benefits ou.y Recommended Citation River, Celeste, "Mountain in his memory| Frank Bird Linderman, his role in acquiring the Rocky Boy Indian Reservation for the Montana Chippewa and Cree, and the importance of that experience in the development of his literary career" (1990). Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers. 3033. https://scholarworks.umt.edu/etd/3033 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at ScholarWorks at University of Montana. It has been accepted for inclusion in Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks at University of Montana. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Mike and Maureen MANSFIELD LIBRARY Copying allowed as provided under provisions of the Fair Use Section of the U.S. COPYRIGHT LAW, 1976. Any copying for commercial purposes or financial gain may be undertaken only with the author's written consent. UniversityMontana of A MOUNTAIN IN HIS MEMORY FRANK BIRD LINDERMAN, HIS ROLE IN ACQUIRING THE ROCKY BOY INDIAN RESERVATION FOR THE MONTANA CHIPPEWA AND CREE, AND THE IMPORTANCE OF THAT EXPERIENCE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF HIS LITERARY CAREER by Celeste River B. A., University of Montana, 1984 Presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Interdisciplinary Studies University of Montana 1990 Approved by i-i ' O JJ- Chairman, Board of Examiners Dean, Graduate School &Cty 9 fa Date , , , _ , Copyright © 1990 by Celeste River UMI Number: EP36152 All rights reserved INFORMATION TO ALL USERS The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. In the unlikely event that the author did not send a complete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion. UMI Dissertation Publishing UMI EP36152 Published by ProQuest LLC (2012). Copyright in the Dissertation held by the Author. Microform Edition © ProQuest LLC. All rights reserved. This work is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code uest" ProQuest LLC. 789 East Eisenhower Parkway P.O. Box 1346 Ann Arbor, Ml 48106 1346 River * Celeste, M.I.S.* June 1990 Interdisciplinary Studies: Journalism/ Religious Studies* Native American Studies. A Mountain In His Memory: Frank Bird Linderman* His Role in Acquiring the Rocky Boy Indian Reservation for the Montana Chippewa and Cree* and the Importance of That Experience in the Development of His Literary Career (279 pages) Director: Charles E. Hood* Jr. In March 1885* when he was 16 years old* Frank Linderman came from the Midwest to the Flathead Valley of Montana Territory to fulfill his boyhood dream of living the free life of a trapper and hunter in the wilderness. Later that year he met a band of Chippewa and Cree Indians who were fugitives from the Riel Rebellion* which had begun in March 1885 in Canada. A lasting friendship developed between Linderman and these displaced native people. Years of concern for the fate of the Chippewa and Cree founded Linderman's resolve to preserve what he knew of the "old West" in printers' ink. Many Montanans have heard of Linderman but few have read the literature he left for future generations* and most are unaware of his pivotal function in acquiring the Rocky Boy Reservation in 1916. Linderman's role in the establishment of the Rocky Boy Reservation has been largely unexplored by historians. His name has been briefly mentioned in histories of the Montana Chippewa and Cree* and of the reservation* but the truth is that Linderman was the spearhead of the movement to acquire land* justice* and opportunity for the homeless Indians. The following materials were examined for this research: the Linderman correspondence files from the Museum of the Plains Indian; the Linderman Collection at the University of Montana archives; files pertaining to Linderman in the H. G. Merriam Collection at the University of Montana archives; all of Linderman's published works and some unpublished; histories of the Chippewa and Cree* the decimation of the bison in North America* the Rocky Boy Reservation* and early 20th-century American Indian policy; and a private collec­ tion of personal letters from Linderman to Chick Rossiter of Sheridan* Montana. River also interviewed various scholars and resource people including Linderman's granddaughter. River concluded that the role Linderman played in the fate of the Chippewa and Cree in Montana was important for two reasons: first* without his efforts the Rocky Boy Reserva­ tion would probably not exist today; second* through those efforts there arose in him the desire to write for posterity his experience of the dignity and wisdom of his native friends. Accounts of Linderman's life and intrepid spirit can inspire the youth of today; his descriptive writings can teach all of us about the wildland heritage of Montana. ii A MOUNTAIN IN HIS MEMORY to my mother and father who encouraged me to appreciate the native people and traditions and the nature of this sacred land ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I wish to thank the Linderman family* the Rossiter family* Dale Johnson and Marianne Farr at the University of Montana Mansfield Library* and Dave Walter at the Montana Historical Society* for their assistance in this research. Thanks also to Peter Nabokov* who first informed me of the historical importance of this topic; and to Bob Murie at the Rocky Boy Reservation* and Jay Eagleman* a descendant of Little Bear* who made it seem more real and significant. To the members of my graduate committee* my sincere appreciation for their guidance and words of encouragement: Professor Charles E. Hood* Dean of the Journalism School* committee chairman; Professor Joseph Epes Brown* Religious Studies; and Professor Richmond Lee Clow* Native American Studies. Professor Warren Brier* Journalism* was always interested. Thanks to Professor Bill Farr* History* who contributed to the challenge at my thesis defense; and to Professors Duane Hampton* History* and Bill Bevis* English* for their time and talk* and their interest in the topic. In the beginning* the keen wit and editorial eye of Nancy Leifer helped give form to the story I wanted to tell* from the thousands of facts and impressions I had gathered. Family and friends have helped make it possible to continue and finish the project. My son Abe inspires me because he represents the people of the future* who might learn to live in full awareness with the spirit of the earth and sky. v PREFACE This is a story about the creation of the Rocky Boy Indian Reservation for the Montana Chippewa and Cree, in the Bear Paw Mountains of Montana. It is also a story about the early development of a western writer.- one of Montana's first, Frank Bird Linderman. Historical studies of the Montana Chippewa and Cree and the Rocky Boy Reservation have only mentioned Linderman, the landless Indians' constant advocate. One anthropologist noted that he was "closely associated with Rocky Boy . during the years 1908-1916, and was his white confidant and advisor during this period."^- Another acknowledged that Linderman was "the leading figure among the few Montanans who befriended [the landless Indians, and] . was largely responsible for ultimately getting them reservation lands. But Linderman's deep concern for the fate of the Chippewa and Cree, his dedication to preserving the wisdom, traditions and ceremony of his old "full-blood" friends, and his pivotal role in acquiring Rocky Boy's reservation, have not been adequately examined. Historical studies are incom­ plete without this part, which is the crux of the story. In Montana Adventure, Linderman's memoirs, published posthumously in 1968, editor Harold G. Merriam commented on the importance of Linderman's role in the fate of the home- vi less and starving Chippewa and Cree of Montana: In the sphere of action/ Frank/ along with others/ did much to aid the homeless Crees and Chippewas/ . His account in his recollections is inadequate/ for it barely suggests the amount of time/ energy/ and money he spent on the project. The true importance of his role will not be known until the hundreds of letters and papers of his . have been studied; accounts heretofore have not assigned to Linderman due credit. It is safe to say that without his efforts the reservation would have been established years later/ if at all. Through persistent strength of character Linderman realized an almost impossible achievement—the establishment of an Indian reservation in Montana in 1916—during the homestead rush/ in an era when American Indian policy called for the dissolution of reservation lands and tribal life. Who were the Chippewa and Cree? Where did they come from? How did they end up in Montana? Why did Linderman become their loyal spokesman/ and what did he do for them? In previous studies/ important dates and facts have been confused. For instance/ there are discrepencies concerning the years when the two leaders/ Rocky Boy and Little Bear/ and their bands of Chippewa and Cree/ finally moved to the proposed reservation at Fort Assiniboine. During the 30 years they were forced to roam/ home­ less/ throughout Montana/ reports of their whereabouts were often confused. There were several key leaders and numerous bands of the two distinct tribal groups/ yet the people had intermingled and intermarried for generations/ and there were many half-breed Metis (French-Cree) among them as well.