Distinctly Montana Magazine

46 D I S T I N C T LY M O N TA N A M A G A Z I N E • S P R I N G 2 0 2 5 eas with strong fossil magic in an attempt to avoid them, the stinging men would travel there to fast, expe- rience visions, and collect ammunition with which to sting their enemies. In such places, such as Carn- egie Hill, Nebraska, Mayor writes, there was "archaeological evidence of vision quest sites, the quests undertaken" by would-be stinging men. The Crow medicine woman Pretty Shield told ethnographer and Montana writer Frank Linderman another tale of fossil mag- ic. Pretty Shield and a friend found a huge bone preserved in the ground when they were girls. It was clearly not a buffalo, and had a "seam [that] ran from front to back, straight, with no divisions." Pretty Shield's friend dug the skull up, but soon the girls were frightened. They ran and told her father, Crazy Sister-In-Law, a medicine man. Her father gathered a piece of calico, a buffalo robe, and a pipe. He lit the pipe and smoked with the skull, hold- ing it out for the skull to partake. Then, quietly, he spoke to the being, telling it his daughter had not meant to bother it. After he had finished, Crazy Sister-In-Law wrapped the skull in the calico and buried it in the buffalo robe. Pretty Shield's unnamed friend, for having dug up a skull with such strong medicine attached, had bad luck visited upon her later in life. An Ojibwe account from Canada tells another story. For them, the ground remains of giant fossilized animals were powerful when used in healing potions. Other fossils served as trade items. Sourced from the Pacific Northwest coast, fresh Dentalia shells were traded on inland networks. Far- ther inland yet, Native Americans in eastern Montana and the Dakotas found it difficult to obtain fresh Denta- lia shells but procured ancient, fossil- ized versions much closer to home to wear as jewelry. Perhaps not surprisingly, Native Americans were frequently employed by the first generation of American fossil hunters as guides and scouts. Red Cloud's son Sword served in this capacity, as did a Lakota named Silas Fills Pipe, a friend of Black Elk. Freder- ick Scott Berryman hired a Crow guide named White Bear, who led him to a petrified forest. Unfortunately, many Native guides go unnamed in the histor- ical record, forgotten. The Indigenous people of the high plains and the mountain West showed remarkably astute readings of some fos- Helena Farmers Market is the longest Running and BEST market in the state. Saturdays on Fuller Avenue Downtown Helena 9 A.M. to 1 P.M. From the end of April - end of October See you at the Market!! www.helenafarmersmarket.com NOMINATE US WIN $1000 FOR YOUR CHANCE TO 2022-24 o f BEST M O N TA N A A S V O T E D B Y R E A D E R S O F W I N N E R ! Y E A R S WO N Serving breakfast, lunch, dinner, cocktails & a fun time! Welcome! jordiscantina.com (406) 563-0134 627 East Park Ave Anaconda, MT Check out our new bar! NOMINATE US WIN $1000 FOR YOUR CHANCE TO 2022-24 o f BEST M O N TA N A A S V O T E D B Y R E A D E R S O F W I N N E R ! Y E A R S WO N Pretty Shield

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