Response to Hays Mission School Abandonment

Dear Editor,

Open letter by Bill Fisher (Traveling Wolf): I was born on the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation in 1943. I’m sharing my paternal history as taught me by my elders and relatives:

1855 My 3rd-great paternal grandfather, Bear’s Shirt signatory of the United States Treaty with the Blackfeet is the only relevant connection to current inheritance of Belknap water rights. This 1855 Treaty signaled the first written claim to all Fort Belknap land aquifer rights, et al to maintain health, life and hunting. In 1855 the Blackfeet Nation lands extended (known now) east to Nashua, south to the Missouri River, north into Canada and west to Three Forks. Thereby any Fort Belknap Reservation Water Compact should be negotiated by Gros Ventre earlier 1855 right to water so the Fort Belknap Assiniboine can benefit equally.

My great-grandfather, Running Fisher (Itn-tyi-waatyi) Born 1846-Died 1909. Son of Tall Eagle and Bear’s Shirt daughter: Imminent Gros-Ventre Chief of Fort Belknap, Captain of Indian Police, Principal Signature of the 1887 Fort Belknap Agreement (not Treaty) separated land from the Blackfeet Nation (not ancestry. 1862 Running Fisher married my great-grandmother, Earthware (4/4 Gros-Ventre.) Their first child was my paternal grandfather, Snakes Headdress (Ignatius.) Running Fisher also became father to Pretty Woman, John, Charlie, Mary, Sunchild and other children from additional wives.

1875 Running Fisher brought back 100 of the prettiest women from the Whirlwind Band of Assinniboine (Canada) as wives for Gros-Ventre men to repopulate Fort Belknap. Fort Belknap Assinniboine outnumbered Gros Ventre by 1897 due to Canadian Assinniboine relatives visiting and staying. The Gros-Ventre’s two pipes power decided Running Fisher Chief and tiebreaker status of any major decision.

1880’s the BIA issued Running Fisher land payments for services rendered as Captain of Indian Police. 1885 Chief Running Fisher allowed 160 acres of usage of his lands to be used for education of Fort Belknap Gros-Ventre where St. Paul’s Mission School now sits dormant. This land was not an endowment because Running Fisher was not a Catholic. Running Fisher practiced and advocated the Sun Dance religion according to Joseph Dixon, author of the Vanishing Race, 1913. Fort Belknap Assinniboine had no legal entitlement to Fort Belknap lands or water until the 1887 Agreement. So, how could the Assinniboine assign land they did not own in 1885? The Running Fisher family has long been aware St. Paul’s School sits on ancestral land that was allowed usage for Gros-Ventre education. Chief Running Fisher allowing his land to be used for perpetual education is different from transferring title of land without any consideration. Allowing the use of the land did not transfer title of the land! Since St. Paul’s Mission School was not rebuilt, the 160 acres should rightfully be restored to Running Fisher heirs or Hays Community usage. I hereby openly request the Bureau of Indian Affairs not allow the Catholic Church to claim ownership or sell lands that were designated usage for educational purposes no longer intentioned by St. Paul’s Mission School.

I object respectively this 5th day of March, 2015

Bill Running Fisher

Dodson, MT