Hill 57
 | This article includes a list of references, related reading, or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations. (April 2012) |
 | Template:Wikify is deprecated. Please use a more specific cleanup template as listed in the documentation. |
A location on the northwestern outskirts of Great Falls, Montana, not very far from the Sun River, in the Sun River Valley, which has been the home for many Chippewa of Montana. At one time the location may have been a Reservation for the landless Chippewa Indians of Montana.
History
It is not so easy to sort through the historical background of Hill 57 because of many circumstances. The name Hill 57 originated after Heinz 57 was written on Mount Royal which is probably the original name of Hill 57, in the 1920s. The landless Chippewa (also known as the Saulteaux) have lived in Great Falls since the establishment of the city. They also lived on the outskirts of many other Montana cities, which was not well received by the whites. Today, Hill 57 remains the only city in Montana where a small landless Chippewa population still lives, which could indicate that Hill 57 is in fact a Reservation.
Diasporas
From time to time the landless Chippewa left the other cities they lived near in Montana and from the Montana Reservations they lived on which were all of Montana's Reservations. Living conditions were one of many reasons for the diasporas to the Great Falls, Montana region including Ulm, Montana which is less than 10 miles away.
1910-1912
In 1910, a series of diasporas off the Blackfeet Reservation by the Chippewa commenced. It continued up to 1912. It was chief Rocky Boy brother Pennato who led most of the diasporas. Many of thChippewa's fled to the Garrison (Ulm), Montana region, which is less than 10 miles from Great Falls, to join with thChippewa's already living there. From there, they relocated to Great Falls. Most likely the cause of the exodus, was the whites forcing Chippewa children to attend white operated schools where the Chippewa children were forced to stop speaking in their language, and the loss of Reservation land.
1916-1920
Historians claim about 90 Chippewa were removed from the Rocky Boy Reservation rolls and ended up relocating to Great Falls, shortly after Rocky Boy Reservation was established in 1916. If that actually occurred it did for a reason. The whites forced the Chippewa children to attend white operated schools where they were forced to stop speaking their native language and lose their tribal identity. The Chippewa had a long history of refusing to allow the whites to take their children to attend white operated schools for they knew the whites meant to brainwash them. One example is what occurred on the Cheyenne River Reservation in 1907 and 1908.
Historians claim between 700 and 1,000 Utes left their Utah Reservation in 1906. They were captured a few miles south of the Crow-Northern Cheyenne Reservation then supposedly agreed to relocate to the Cheyenne River Reservation. On the contrary, a group of between 700 and 1,000 Chippewa left the Cheyenne River Reservation and were captured a few miles south of the Crow-Northern Cheyenne Reservation. Through negotiations the Chippewa were set aside a new Reservation within the Cheyenne River Reservation which covered over 92,000 acres.
Once the Chippewa settled there they learned the whites broke treaty promises by forcing their children to attend white operated schools. Once the Chppewa learned the whites were forcing their children to stop speaking in their native language they became angry and a war nearly arose. The war was avoided however.
Thus, the reason for the Chippewa exodus off the Rocky Boy Reservation was to keep their tribal identity alive and their children under their education. Most of the Chippewa living on the Rocky Boy Reservation have lost their Chippewa identity. The whites are claiming the Indians of the Rocky Boy Reservation are nearly all Cree and Metis which is a lie.
Great Falls Chippewa Settlements
Great Falls was large enough to allow the landless Chippewa to establish several camps around the expanding white settlement. This was back in the 1880s, 1890s, and the very early 1900s. The Chippewa selected locations in the Great Falls region which were important to them or because the whites would not allow them to live in certain locations.
South Great Falls
South of Great Falls was a location the Chippewa established a camp. This was before the 1920s. I don't know the exact location of the Chippewa camp on the south side of Great Falls. It may have been on the west side across the Missouri River, or on the east side south of what is now 10th ave south, or possibly north of 10th ave south. The camp was eventually deserted by the Chippewa. Possibly because the whites wanted the camp moved to another location.
West Great Falls
Another Chippewa camp was located in west Great Falls. It was possibly further west of Hill 57, in the Sun River Valley, or in fact a part of the Hill 57 Chippewa camp. It may have been located near the mouth of the Sun River. There are historical records which tell of an Indian village in that location before the whites invaded. The camp was possibly deserted or forced to concentrate together on less land. Both chief Rocky Boy and chief Little Bear lived at thChippewa's camp on the west side of Great Falls.
North Great Falls
Another Chippewa camp was located in north Great Falls, between Black Eagle, Montana and Mount Royal. The camp was scattered and had a significant Chippewa population. Many of the Chippewa lived where the Montana Refinery Company is located and along the north shores of the Missouri River nearby. To the north is Prospect Heights where many otheChippewa's lived in north Great Falls. This Chippewa camp in the Great Falls region, may have had the largest Chippewa population of the Chippewa camps in the Great Falls region. ManChippewa's continued to live there well into the 20th century.
Forced Relocation
Around 1920 or before, white leaders in Great Falls forced the Chippewa living near the north shores of the Missouri River, to relocate. New business establishments were planned and the camps were in the way. Many of the Chippewa moved further north up to Prospect Heights and Hill 57. The Chippewa had long lived in that location. It was ideal for crossing the Missouri River before Black Eagle Falls Dam was built and the small reservoir created by the dam, arose.
Mount Royal
Mount Royal is over 200 feet higher up than the location alongside the hill to the west. At one time a camp of Chippewa lived on the top of Mount Royal. Their population was possibly between 100 and 200. There may be one family living on top of Mount Royal now.
Hill 57
It is located alongside Mount Royal. It had the largest Chippewa population in the Great Falls region except for possibly the north Great Falls Chippewa camps. At one time several hundreChippewa's lived there. They were singled out by people who portrayed themselves as wanting to help them in their struggle. What they fell for was a scheme to secretly remove them from the obvious Reservation. Even in the early 1950s up to 300 Chippewa lived alongside Mount Royal (Hill 57) and on top of Mount Royal. Their living conditions were like that of other Native American Reservations. In the 1930s, an attempt was made to establish a Reservation for the Hill 57 Chippewa. They did receive over 42 acres of land to sell to acquire land near Rocky Boy Reservation but according to historians the Reservation never materialized.
What is suspicious about the 42 acres located near Hill 57, which was to be sold to the highest bidder, is the location of the land. It was too near Hill 57 which can represent a series of scenarios. One being an establishment of a Chippewa Reservation at Hill 57. Another is the eradication of an existing Reservation at Hill 57. Then, of course, the proceeds made from selling the land to establish the proposed new Chippewa Reservation near Rocky Boy Reservation. What happened to the land and the money?
Chief Buffalo Coat
Chief Buffalo Coat was one of chief Rocky' Boy's sub-chiefs who led thChippewa's and Crees in the Great Falls region. Others include chief Little Bear obviously who lived in the Great Falls region frequently and is reported to have been the leader of the Chippewa and Crees in southwest Montana, and chief Long Hair (chief Ka-na-bay-zhik-um) who led the Chippewa and Crees in the Marias River region. Chief Ka-keesh-ka-wash-cha-bay-wo who led the Chippewa and Crees on the Crow-Northern Cheyenne Reservation and around Billings, Montana also. Other sub-chiefs of Rocky Boy included chief Rain of the Bow, chief Lucky Man, chief Mah-chop, chief Pay-pah-Mish-zho-wait, and chief Nan-om-zha. They all had to follow chief Rocky Boy.
Chief Buffalo Coat was forced to relocate to Canada by the United States in 1896. However, chief Buffalo Coat returned to Montana because according to him they were not treated well in Canada. Chief Buffalo Coat is important to the Chippewa at Hill 57. In early 1898, he requested for State aid from Montana, land, and citizenship for his people. If the United States actually set aside a Reservation for the landless Chippewa in Great Falls, it was around the 1898 time period.
According to reports at the time, the governor of Montana and the federal government claimed no jurisdiction to settle the Chippewa on a Reservation. The Great Falls Tribune reported that it would be cheaper to set aside a Reservation than to constantly offer emergency aid or to deport them. An obvious indication that the local government actually desired that a Reservation be set aside in order to save local government money.
Chief Buffalo Coat clearly offered to accept past treaty agreements and citizenship for the Chippewa and Crees he led. Either the United States refused the chiefs peace offer or actually agreed to set aside the Reservation chief Buffalo Coat requested for. What is obviously clearly evident is chief Buffalo Coats request for a Reservation for the Chippewa and Crees in the Great Falls region.
The Reservation?
A Chippewa Reservation in the Great Falls region possibly existed or in fact still does. Since the Chippewa had several camps in the Great Falls region, the Chippewa Reservation may have been quite large. It may have covered up to 10,000 acres or more. North Great Falls; northwest Great Falls; west Great Falls; and possibly south Great Falls west of the Missouri River, was possibly the Reservation. The Fort Shaw Military Reservation was later used as a school for Indian children. On some late 19th century and early 20th century maps, Fort Shaw Indian Res is clearly written. Fort Shaw, Montana is about 20 miles west of Great Falls. The old Fort Shaw Military Reservation may have been the Reservation.
An attempt to establish a Chippewa Reservation in the Flathead Reservation in 1904 was not ratified by the United States. The Chippewa had long lived in Western Montana and under chief Rocky Boy's leadership, they tried to keep their Chippewa identity alive on the Flathead Reservation by working with Senator Dixon. Senator Dixon did try to speak for the Chippewa of the Flathead Reservation but he was ignored.
A 2,160 sq. mi., Chippewa Reservation was set aside in Valley County, Montana for the landless Chippewa of western and southwestern Montana but the Chippewa of western Montana were charged high rates to use trains to travel to Valley County. In November of 1909, the United States rounded up to 200 landless Chippewa living in southwestern Montana and relocated them to a new Chippewa Reservation on the Blackfeet Reservation, located at Babb. Many didn't like it and commenced the exodus.
So the history of the Chippewa Indians of Hill 57, is one that is clouded with uncertainty and one that can't be ignored. The Hill 57 Chippewa are the Chippewa of Montana who are holding on to their Anishinabe identity better than all others. All Reservations in Montana have a Chippewa population. Perhaps the Blackfeet Reservation has the largest Chippewa population of them all. Though Rocky Boy Reservation is a Chippewa Reservation, it is well known that the Chippewa settled down on the Blackfeet Reservation. Next is the Flathead Reservation.
Denise Hortense Tolan
If present day Chippewa of Great Falls want to learn how the Hill 57 Chippewa population was dramatically reduced, they must learn about Denise Hortense Tolan. She commenced a campaign in the 1950s to improve the living conditions of the Hill 57 Chippewa. Her effort resulted in the migration of the Hill 5Chippewa's, into the city of Great Falls to live. As mentioned, up to 300 Chippewa were still living at Hill 57 in the early 1950s. Tolan's efforts should have been targeted at upgrading the housing at Hill 57 than relocating the Chippewa into Great Falls to live. Although the living conditions of the Hill 57 Chippewa were like that of other Native American Reservations, Tolan ignored the fact that the Hill 57 Chippewa were living together as a people. What she did made many Hill 57 Chippewa very angry and pointing the finger of blame at her.
Present (the Ah-on-to-ay)
Currently the Hill 57 Chippewa only number about 15 to 20 at the most. There are only about 8 or 9 families living at Mount Royal now. There may be one family living on top of Mount Royal, while the others live alongside Mount Royal. They have tried in the past to gain federal recognition (the Ah-on-to-way and the Little Shell). The Ah-on-to-way are being ignored. Their attempts at federal recognition goes back to 1941 or about the time the whites wanted to establish a Reservation for the Hill 5Chippewa. The Ah-on-to-way claim they are the rightful heirs to Mount Royal. Ogima Ah-on-to-way may have been born between 1810 and 1820. Chief Ah-on-to-way refused to take treaty and live on a Reservation. He was hostile or let it be known that he did not accept any treaty reached between the Chippewa and whites. The whites considered him to be hostile. He was one of many Montana Chippewa who refused to take treaty and live on a Reservation.
After the wars for Montana ended, ogima Ah-on-to-way adherred to peace. His son Nay-na-na-ga-way-yo-gwan-ip, may have inherited his fathers power. Nay-na-na-ga-way-yo-gwan-ip had a son named Jim Gopher. He was born on the Fort Peck Reservation in 1888. Before that time, ogima Ah-on-to-way was traveling between Alberta and Saskatchewan and Montana. Jim Gopher moved to Saskatchewan to live but came back to Montana to settle down on the Hill 57 colony. His family are the ones trying to prove they are the rightful heirs to Mount Royal. They have the stronger evidence but are not following ogima Ah-on-to-way's example. By that, i mean, adherring to defiance.
Ogima Ah-on-to-way was brave enough to not take treaty and live where he wanted. The Little Shell Chippewa of Montana are said to have been from North Dakota but this evidence surrounding ogima Ah-on-to-way, suggests otherwise. If the landless Chippewa of Montana (there are three groups - the Ah-on-to-way; the Black River and Swan Creek Chippewa who originally lived in southern Michigan and Ohio and are also the Sauk Indians; and the Little Shell) gain federal recognition, it will be the Little Shell Chippewa of Hill 57. The Black River and Swan Creek Chippewa relocated from Michigan in 1838-1839, to Kansas. From Kansas, many migrated up to Montana in the mid 19th century. They have no chance of claiming Hill 57 but they only want federal recognition. What needs to be learned of, is if in fact a Chippewa Reservation was established at Hill 57 in the 1930s or long before. There may be strong evidence that there is.