Distinctly Montana Magazine

w w w . d i s t i n c t l y m o n t a n a . c o m 49 awe to the Native Americans he encountered. In Salish cul- ture, when a man paints himself black, it is due to bravery proven in battle, so the sight of York reinforced his interpre- tation that these were survivors of a battle. A black person must have been their best, bravest warrior from the recent skirmish. The party moved slowly through the valley, with the two "chiefs" in the lead, carefully surveying their surroundings. They had no apparent hostile intentions. Additionally, with them was a woman with an infant. No tribe would send a woman with child into battle. Therefore, these people probably did not pose a danger to his people. Chief Three Eagles returned to camp to alert everyone of the approaching strangers. He instructed a party to go out from the camp and bring them back safely. No one was to harm their strange new visitors. They brought the Corps into the center of the Salish camp. One can imagine the commotion this would have made. The captains shook hands with the Chief and proceeded to un- load their worn-out horses. As the Chief saw they had no blankets to sit on, he ordered some of their best buffalo robes for the captains. When the robes came, Lewis and Clark put them around their shoulders rather than sat on them. This was a real breach of protocol, so obviously, communi- cation must have been poor, at best. The Chief offered them a smoke, but they found the Indian tobacco harsh and did not like it. In return they offered the Chief some of their east- ern tobacco. To the Indians, this was very strong and caused them to cough, which was quite humorous to the onlookers. In the end, the captains asked for some kinnikinnick and mixed their tobacco with some of that, and the mixture was enjoyed by all. They were fascinated by York, who drew a crowd. They rubbed his cheek and were surprised that his color did not rub off; stroking one's index finger across one's cheek be- came the sign language for a black person thereafter. When it was time to retire, they returned the buffalo robes, again a breach of Salish protocol, as these were gifts, and un- packed their own blankets for sleeping; very strange behav- ior indeed. ief ree Eagles ordered some of their best buffalo robes FOR THE CAPTAINS. WHEN THE ROBES CAME, LEWIS AND CLARK PUT THEM AROUND THEIR SHOULDERS RATHER THAN SAT ON THEM. The inscription reads: "This traditional place— whose Salish language name means 'big clear area' or 'great clearing' was used by countless genera- tions of Indian people to gather chokecherries and to pasture their horses on the abundant grass. From here, the Salish could travel south to the Salmon River country to fish for salmon, or travel east to the open plains, to hunt buffalo. The Lewis and Clark Expedition was welcomed by a large band of Salish Indians who were camped in this open valley on September 4, 1805. Captain Clark noted that there were over 30 lodges, 400 people and at least 500 horses. Clark also wrote: "those people recved us friendly, threw white robes over out shoulders & smoked in the pipes of peace..." Interpretive Sign at Ross' Hole (Great Clearing), featuring painting, Offering at the Great Clearing by Native artist Jesse Henderson of the Corps of Discov- ery arriving at the Salish encampment, Sept 4, 1805.

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