A Linderman letter

Most local folks know of the famous Montana pioneer, writer, historian and legislator, Frank Linderman. His books on Indians are classics and some were illustrated by his friend, Charlie Russell.

Related to this is my on-going "den cleaning," and last week that work uncovered the copy of a fascinating letter he wrote on March 12, 1918, to Mrs. Albert J. Roberts of Helena:

"Replying to your letter: I came to Montana when I was a boy of 17 and fortune directed my way to its wildest portion, the Flathead country, where I trapped and hunted for nearly seven years. During all of this time I was among the Flathead and Kootenai's who have always inhabited this section. In 1885, the Riel Rebellion was added to the history of the Northwest, and after some desperate fighting, the Crees and Chippewas were beaten by the Canadian troops. These Indians came across the line into Montana and some thirty lodges of them camped near me in the Flathead. They were picturesque in the extreme and full of fight. I soon learned that they were wholly unspoiled by contact with the white man. They clung to their old customs and traditions more closely than did the Flathead or Kootenai because the latter had been associated with the "black robes" and other missionaries for many years. The chiefs — there were two of them — and an old Medicine- man, whose name was 'Full-of-Dew' became fast friends of mine and, from them all, especially the latter, I learned much of the 'long ago.'"

"I had had trouble with the Kootenai and even to this day have not quite forgiven them, so I sought to strengthen the friendship between the new arrivals and myself. This friendship has lasted unbroken since 1885. In fact, I am a Chippewa by adoption, and as the Crees and Chippewa claim kinship and have always been allies, I feel myself to be as much Cree as Chippewa. The band of Chippewas that had taken part in the war over the border had drifted to the buffalo range from Wisconsin many years before but they frequented the plains always.

"You will find that these people drove the great Sioux tribes to the Dakotas from the head of Lake Superior in sixteen hundred and something, where they have since lived. At the beginning, I found that the white man who should know most of the redmen, knew but little. The ideas possessed by them were seldom correct. This was especially true of the men who had Indian wives and settled among the tribes of the plains and mountains.

I have been a collector of stone arrow-points at home in Ohio and, after reading 'Atlantis,' I became convinced that if the Indian ever used these it was hundreds of years ago. I think this idea was largely responsible for my trying to learn of the folklore of the Indian. I soon satisfied myself that the stone arrow-point belonged to some other race than the Indian, but at arriving at this decision, I ran across many stories which I thought worth saving. I was careful in securing these stories and tried many individuals among the older Indians I knew but found them to be as careful as myself in handling them.

"…In the work of gathering the legends, I became interested in the Indian's religion and found much worth knowing. I admire the Indian. I mean the old Indian, not the young, moving-picture Indian, but the real unspoiled man of the wilds. He's the only human I have ever known who knows no jealousy. He will ever extol the prowess of the competitor who beats him at any trial of skill. The successful man is not envied but is pointed to with pride by his fellows. I have tried to know him for over 33 years and, while he has called me brother and friend, I feel I have learned but little of this man of mystery — the Indian.

"I am afraid that I have not told you what you want to know but if I can do anything more to be of service, please do not hesitate to say so for I call Mr. Roberts my friend. He was always kind to my daughters during their school days in Helena and I shall feel honored to be of assistance. Please remember me to Mr. Roberts.

Yours truly,

F.B. Linderman

(Note) Linderman's granddaughter, Sally Hatfield, presently lives in Kalispell. Her older brother, Rick, was a classmate of mine. Sally recalls that Mr. Roberts was a school administrator in Helena while her granddad was in the Legislature from 1903-1907. Frank Bird Linderman's life story, including autobiographical material, was put in a wonderful book by Dr. Harold Merriam in 1968, "Montana Adventure." An astounding collection of Linderman's letters, books and Indian artifacts was placed in the Mansfield Library at the University of Montana in 1984.

G. George Ostrom is the news director of KOFI radio and a Hungry Horse News columnist.