 |
| Billy Curlew holding the team; Clair Seaton on the rail; Eleanor Seaton standing right foreground, Sam Seaton standing behind |
One of my favorite family photographs shows Billy Curlew, then close to 63, holding the team. My uncle Clair is sitting on the rail, my aunt Eleanor standing right foreground, and my grandfather Sam Seaton standing behind. It was taken about 1925 (based on the apparent ages of Clair, born in September 1915, and Eleanor, about 2 years older).
Billy Curlew was born in 1862 while his band was on a root digging trip to the present Ephrata - Soap Lake area, at a summer village site called En Tach Wa Num. Orphaned soon after birth in 1862, he was raised in the household of Chief Moses of the Kawachkina or Columbias. Billy's Indian name was Cul Lul Kah Low (Like Turning). When he was a boy he usually lived during the winter at the permanent village of Kum Muk A Quatch (Small Hill by the Water), thirty miles upstream from Vantage near the upper end of Crescent Bar. This was the home village of Moses during winter. Billy's grandfather and Moses' grandfather appear to have been brothers.
From 1884 on he lived on the Colville Reservation. Billy was known as one of the most able, reliable horsemen among the Indians. In July 1919. at the Indian Celebration at Inchelium, on a hots race he wagered $500 his Buckskin Horse would run the 20 mile rough road from Kettle Falls to Inchelium, faster than two big Canadian Indians could paddle their light canoe down the foaming Columbia, through whirlpools and dangerous drift. Few people backed the horse, so Billy was able to obtain odds. Later he refused $2,000 for the horse. The town of Curlew was named for him. He was elected chief of the Colville Indian tribe in 1936. He died May 25, 1961, two days after the funeral of Chief Jim James. As was the case with Jim James, all of Billy's children and grandchildren died of tuberculosis and other diseases of civilization. Later, when he lost his faithful wife of many years, Billy did not remarry as had James.
 |
| Billy Curlew, Columbia band, near old campsite on Dry Ford Creek, October 1956 |
________
Shortened (200 word limit) version:
One of my favorite family photograph from about 1925 shows Billy Curlew, then about 63, holding the team, my uncle Clair sitting on the rail, aunt Eleanor standing right foreground, and grandfather Sam Seaton standing behind.
Billy Curlew was born about 1862 while his band was on a root digging trip to the present Ephrata-Soap Lake area, at a summer village site called En Tach Wa Num. Orphaned soon after birth, he was raised in the household of his second cousin, Chief Moses of the Kawachkina or Columbias. Billy's Indian name was Cul Lul Kah Low (Like Turning). When he was a boy he usually lived during the winter at the permanent village of Kum Muk A Quatch (Small Hill by the Water), the winter home village of Moses, thirty miles upstream from Vantage.
From 1884 on he lived on the Colville Reservation. Billy was known as one of the most able, reliable horsemen among the Indians. The town of Curlew was named for him. He was elected chief of the Colville Indian tribe in 1936. He died May 25, 1961, two days after the funeral of Chief Jim James.
________
Online Sources:
________
https://digitalcollections.lib.washington.edu/digital/collection/imlsmohai/id/7517
Billy Curlew with Herman Friedlander, probably on the Colville Indian Reservation, September 28, 1953
_____
https://content.libraries.wsu.edu/digital/collection/cullwhite/id/173/
Two unidentified Native American men, Billy Curlew, and Cull A. White
________
INVESTIGATE INDIAN AFFAIRS
HEARINGS BEFORE A SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE COMMITTEE ON INDIAN AFFAIRS
https://books.google.com/books?id=-VchkZMCg9kC&pg=PA759&lpg=PA759&dq=billy+curlew&source=bl&ots=vVECO-t4dg&sig=ACfU3U06rCbPD13Bf_Rm72YJQZ7wCzvw6g&hl=en&ppis=_e&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwj-i7b66KzlAhXRvJ4KHcv5AnA4ChDoATAIegQIBhAB#v=onepage&q=billy%20curlew&f=false
On October 3, 1944, the subcommittee met in Yakima. Several members of the Colville tribes gave statements, including Peter Dan Moses and Billy Curlew. p. 759
________
from Tribal Tribune
Media/News Company in Nespelem, Washington
Washington family donates archaeological materials
Donation to Colville Tribal History/Archaeology program includes cradleboard that once belonged to Cull White
________
untitled
pdf manuscript of field trip to Kawachkin by Click Relander - 1954
The Kawachkin informant was Billy Curlew, enrolled and allotted on the Colville Reservation. The interpreter was Hernan Friedlander,
https://archives.yvl.org/bitstream/handle/20.500.11867/8013/DOC-025-09-001.pdf?sequence=1
_____
pdf manuscript: Recollections of Billy Curlew, by Cull White
https://archives.yvl.org/bitstream/handle/20.500.11867/7898/MNS-061-23-001.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y
________
Natives Of The Pacific Northwest And Their Legecy
Billy Curlew ( Town Of Curlew Named For Him)
San Poil Tribe
https://www.pbase.com/mad_monte1/natives_of_the_pacific_northwest
________
Photo of Billy Curlew late 1950s
https://www.facebook.com/NNAIOP/photos/billy-curlew-sanpoil-circa-1950/10151919474955578/
________
No comments:
Post a Comment