The Historic St. Mary’s Mission in Stevensville, Montana includes a number of historic photos of the Bitterroot Salish. The Mission was originally established by the Catholic Jesuits in what would become Stevensville to convert the Bitterroot Salish. The original mission was established in 1841 and then abandoned in 1850. It was re-established in 1866. The Bitterroot Salish were forcibly removed from the area by the United States Army in 1891 and force-marched to the Jocko Reservation (now called the Flathead Reservation) some 60 miles to the north.
Information Signs
Shown below are some of the historic photos from the information signs.
Chief Victor’s Cabin
One of the buildings in the Historic St. Mary’s Mission Complex is Chief Victor’s Cabin. Chief Victor (1790-1870) served as chief from 1840 until his death in 1870. His cabin today contains displays of Salish artifacts. Shown below are some of the historic photographs which are displayed in this building.
Indians 101
Twice each week—on Tuesdays and Thursdays—this series presents various American Indian topics. More from this series:
Indians 101: Bitterroot Salish Encampment (photo diary)
Indians 101: Indians, Iwo Jima, and the American Flag
Indians 201: Indians Saving the Buffalo People
Indians 101: The Cannon and the Mule
Indians 101: Suppressing Indian religions in Montana in the nineteenth century
Indians 201: Christianity Comes to the Flathead Indians
Indians 101: The Cataldo Mission and the Couer d'Alene Indians (Photo Diary)
Indians 101: The Historic St. Mary's Mission Chapel and the Bitterroot Salish (photo diary)