Chief Charlo

Charlo (also Charlot; Claw of the Little Grizzly or Small Grizzly-Bear Claw) (c. 1830–1910) was head chief of the Bitterroot Salish from 1870 to 1910. He was appointed chief upon the death of his father, Chief Victor (Many Horses or Plenty-of-Horses). Chief Victors signature was forged during the signing of the Treaty of Hellgate in 1855. Charlo, like Chief Victor before him, followed a policy of peace with the American settlers in Southwestern Montana and the soldiers at nearby Fort Missoula.[1][2] In November 1891 Charlo and a small remnant of the Bitterroot Salish were forced by a contingent of troops from Fort Missoula to move from the Bitterroot Valley and St. Mary's mission to the Flathead Reservation.[3][4] Charlo had three children from his marriage to Margaret: Martin, Ann Felix, and Victor. Victor became head chief upon the death of Charlo on January 10, 1910.[5]

Chief Charlo
Charlo, painted by E. S. Paxson
Bitterroot Salish leader
Preceded byChief Victor (Many Horses or Plenty-of-Horses)
Personal details
Bornc. 1830
DiedJanuary 10, 1910
Spouse(s)Margaret
ChildrenMartin, Ann Felix, and Victor
ParentsChief Victor (Many Horses or Plenty-of-Horses)
Nickname(s)(Claw of the Little Grizzly or Small Grizzly-Bear Claw)

A speech printed in 1876 by Montana newspapers expressed the frustration and betrayal felt by Charlo towards the white settlers and the U.S. military and government representatives. In part it read:

Since our forefathers first beheld him...[the whiteman] has filled graves with our bones...His course is destruction. He spoils what the Spirit who gave us this country made beautiful and clean. But that is not enough. He wants us to pay him besides his enslaving our country...and...that degradation of a Tribe who never were his enemies. What is he? Who sent him here? We were happy when he first came...To take and to lie should be burned on his forehead, as he burns the sides of my horses with his own name. Had heaven's Chief burnt him with some mark, we might have refused him. No, we did not refuse him in his weakness. In his poverty we fed, we cherished him-yes, befriended him, and showed the fords and defiles of our lands...We owe him nothing. He owes us more than he will pay...His laws never gave us a blade of grass nor a tree nor a duck nor a grouse nor a trout...You know that he comes as long as he lives, and takes more and more, and dirties what he leaves.

The town of Charlo, Montana and Chief Charlo Elementary School, in Missoula, Montana, are named after him.[6][7]

References
  1. "Chiefs of the Flatheads 1840 to 1910". Historic St. Mary's Mission and Museum. Retrieved 2012-12-22.
  2. "The Flight of the Nez Perce". Archived from the original on 2003-03-17. Retrieved 2012-12-22.
  3. Kim Briggeman. "Chief Charlo : Salish Tribe makes annual pilgrimage to St. Mary's Mission". The Buffalo Post. Archived from the original on 2012-03-19. Retrieved 2012-12-22.
  4. Kim Briggeman (2010-09-10). "Montana history almanac: Chief Charlo: 'I will not go'". The Missoulian. Retrieved 2012-12-22.
  5. "History of the Salish Tribe in the Bitterroot Valley". Historic St. Mary's Mission and Museum. Retrieved 2012-12-22.
  6. "Charlo Montana Travel Information". Retrieved 2012-12-22.
  7. "Chief Charlo Elementary School > Home". Archived from the original on 2013-02-11. Retrieved 2012-12-22.
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