Mountain in his memory| Frank Bird Linderman, his role in acquiring the Rocky Boy Indian

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Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, &
Graduate School
Professional Papers
1990
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Celeste River
The University of Montana
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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.
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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
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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