Distinctly Montana Magazine

D I S T I N C T L Y M O N T A N A M A G A Z I N E • F A L L 2 0 2 0 60 Louis "Louie" Adams, acclaimed Salish elder, was born on the Flathead Reservation near Missoula. He joined the Navy at 18 in 1951, seeking to further his education, and served during the Korean War aboard the USS Hubbard. After service, Louie returned to his home in Montana. In addition to a twenty-year career with the Bureau of Indian Affairs and Tribal Forestry, Louie was an iconic historian of the Salish people and their land. He was a revered ambassador of the Salish culture and a beloved teacher and storyteller. He shared his experiences with audiences of all ages, fostering understanding and goodwill among all cultures. He made a difference to many. Contemporary Indian veterans continue to serve and honor their warrior culture. Jamie Fox, a Gros Ventre and Métis, grew up on the Fort Belknap Reservation. Both her grandfathers were World War II veterans and numerous uncles and aunts served during the Korean, Vietnam and Desert Storm eras. Like other Indian veterans, Jamie considers military service a high honor and the extension of warrior society. Enlisting in the Air Force at 17 in 2007 and twice deployed to the Middle East, she served until 2017. Jamie was one of few women trained in heavy aircraft maintenance, keeping planes mission-ready. As a crew chief, she held the lives of those who flew in those planes literally in her hands. During a visit home to Fort Belknap following her first deployment, Jamie's community cere- moniously paid her tribute with an eagle feather, a high honor. Her mother was equally honored with a star quilt. Jamie explains that worry for a child in service makes a mother a warrior, too. Jamie's musically talented family has preserved rich musi- cal traditions steeped in Celtic, French, and Native American cul- tures. As a youngster, she learned to play the fiddle and, with her family, widely shared their cultural songs and dances. When she enlisted, Jamie took her fiddle with her. After service, her cultural heritage helped her through the dif- ficult transition to civilian life. Today, Jamie is a highly acclaimed Métis master fiddler who shares and teaches her craft. Her military service is part of who she is, and like her art, she celebrates it. "I wish that more veterans would share their stories," she says, "and celebrate what will always be a big part of [their] life." The Warrior Spirit Project offers an opportunity for Indian veter- ans and their families to share their stories. The project is funded by the Library of Congress Teaching with Primary Sources in cooperation with the National Cemetery Administration's Veterans Legacy Program and the National Indian Education Association. Montana partners include the Montana Historical Society, the Office of Public Instruction, and educators and historians who are collecting personal stories, oral interviews, and primary documents. These resources and attendant curricula will soon be available to teachers, students, and researchers on the Library of Congress Veterans History Project website. For more information or to participate, visit https://sites.google.com/view/warriorspiritproject/home. T H E WA R R I O R S P I R I T P R O J E C T IS DESIGNED TO COMPLEMENT THE MEMORIAL BY COLLECTING NATIVE VETERANS' INDIVIDUAL STORIES. Jamie Fox Louie Adams Barney Old Coyote HANS KRISTIAN HANNIBAL

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