This eminent chief of the Cayuse tribe of Umatilla Indians, located in
northern Oregon, resembles in stature the graceful outlines of a forest
pine. A commanding figure, six feet two inches in height, noble and
dignified in bearing, quiet and reserved in manner, he creates an
atmosphere of intellectuality. His speech is sparkling and eloquent. His
face wears the soul-mark of serenity and triumph. As he stood against the
living green of the forest, clad in the rich Indian raiment of his tribe,
wolfskin, gray with the tinge of the prairies, otterskin, smooth and dark
like the velvet of moss, myriads of ermine tails glistening white in the
sunlight, glimmering beads from necklace to moccasins, flaunting eagle
feathers tipped with orange and crimson tassels, that must have floated in
many a sky, all gave to this man the appearance of some god of the forest
who had just come forth from its primeval depths bringing with him the
laurels of wood and mountain crag and sky, some king standing on the edge
of the wood amazed at the flatness and tameness of the valley and plains.
Umapine stood there the embodiment and glorification of Indian manners,
costume, and tradition, a vivid picture of Indian life and story. The
waymarks of such a life are, always tense with interest: they are more so
as he points them out himself. We will let him tell his own story:
“It was the custom among my people to narrate to their children the
history of the past and they narrated to me that my tribe had learned to
make clothing from furs which were gotten from animals, and this clothing
was comfortable during the winter time as well as in the summer time.
There is still some of this clothing remaining among older Indians of my
tribe. My understanding is that all the Indians in this part of the
country used animal furs and skins for clothing. The old Indians believed
in those days that they had the best kind of clothing, but they do not
feel that it would be right at the present time to dress that way, as the
Indians of to-day are more civilized. Yet the clothes that we have now
are derived from animals. We get fur from animals, and our blankets and
clothes are made from animals. From that point I cannot say which I like
the better. I like the clothing of civilized people as far as I can see.
The white man’s clothing is fit for men to wear. I like to wear his
clothes very well, but I also like to wear the clothing my people used to
wear in the olden time, but I do not like to wear it now on account of my
friends the white people, who live with me. I remember when I was a small
boy I used to see so many wagon trains going west. I knew these were
white people, but at that time I did not know where they were going. I
saw these wagons going through nearly the whole summer, and my folks told
me these people were going west and were to live there, and that I must
not injure them in any way, and that I must have respect for them, because
they were always kind to my folks. And I was instructed later to respect
these people, and so I did. Furthermore, my grandfather lived on a river
called Walla Walla. Many white people came to that place and put up their
tents and lived there, and also there was some kind of other people which
we have found were French. My grandfather had a great respect for these
white people as well as his own tribe, and thought very much of them and
tried to help them get along. As soon as the other tribes learned there
were some white people living near my grandfather’s place, there was a
great gathering of the tribes to meet these white folks who were living on
the river. I have it in my heart to always remember what my folks told
me, and when I grew old enough to know I had respect for these white
people as well as my own tribe, and to-day my heart is just the same as it
was in those days. Furthermore, I have respect for any kind of people; it
does not make any difference to me from what part of the country they
come. It does not make any difference whether I don’t understand their
language, but I always have respect for any kind of people who come to
this land, and to-day I am sitting here in a strange country and I am
worrying about my property in my own country, but at the same time I am
rejoicing in the work that Mr. Dixon is doing here, and I highly
congratulate him in this work. The work he is doing here to-day is work
that may never be done any more after this, and I have a great respect for
him this day because he is taking these photographs of my friends whom I
meet here at this place, and whom I will never see any more. I rejoice to
meet my own class of people who are coming here now. They all come from
different parts of the United States. I cannot speak their language nor
can I understand them all, but I do all I can to talk with them; and you,
too, Mr. Valentine, I am thinking of you as I am here talking with Mr.
Dixon, and at the same time I am rejoicing just as he has opened my eyes
and I hope that we will get along well. I am going to say I have respect
for the people you send to this country. I see that they have two eyes,
they have two ears, two limbs, two feet, and fingers as I have, but we all
have one head and one heart; we all breathe the same air and we stand on
the earth as brothers. The only difference between myself and the white
man is that his complexion is lighter than mine.”
“I have a great love for you, President Taft, although I never saw your
face, or never listened to any of your talk, but I know what you want, and
I find you are greatly interested in the Indian, and so I am sitting here
and giving the history of the Indian life, which will be a great benefit
to you, and also benefit the people who are coming in later years. This
evening I am rejoicing here, and I feel just as if you were present with
this gentleman, and I feel just as if I were about to talk with you.”
[Down the Western Slope]