It was the year that Montana became a territory of the United States and famed cowboy artist Charlie Russell was born in St. Louis. It also was the year a little subalpine fir germinated not far from a creek that somebody would eventually name Rye.
“American Indians were a major political force then,” said Montana troubadour Jack Gladstone, whose father was Blackfeet. “And it's good that people understand that we still exist today.”
The tree was one of 80 companion trees shipped to Washington with the 144-year-old subalpine fir cut in November at Rye Creek on the Bitterroot National Forest that will serve as this year's Capitol Christmas tree.
The companion trees were gathered from federal, state and private lands from all parts of Montana. They now decorate offices throughout the Capitol.
Their branches are filled with ornate handmade ornaments donated by Montanans and others.
This was the first time that a companion tree was offered to the American Indian Museum. Paula Wofford of the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation and a member of the Salish and Kootenai tribes spearheaded the effort.
“The tree came from our reservation and I'm really pleased to see it here,” she said, watching as people took turns carefully decorating the tree with ornaments made by members of several different Montana Indian tribes.
All the ornaments on the tree were handmade by Montana Indian people, both young and old, she said.
“A lady in Browning hand-delivered an intricately beaded ornament to me and asked that I make sure that it was placed on this tree,” Wofford said.
“In Browning, they did a drum song for us. This is important and I hope that it continues into the future,” she said.
Jane Sledge, the museum's associate director of assets and collections, said she hopes so, too.
Looking through the boxes of ornaments, Sledge said she was moved by the fact that most had names written across the back.
“You feel the connection between the people who worked really hard on these ornaments,” Sledge said. “Just by looking at them, you can see that they really put a lot of love into their efforts. ... That's really what Christmas is supposed to be about. That joy in people's hearts.
“I hope that when people see this tree, they'll feel that joy too.”
Bitterroot National Forest Supervisor Dave Bull was among those who reached high to put a ornament on the tree.
“We appreciate the efforts that Paula Wofford and Montana's tribal members made to make this happen,” Bull said.
With the lighting of the Capitol Christmas tree just a day away, Bull said the excitement has really started to build.
“We've received a great reception here in Washington, D.C.,” Bull said. “Everyone seems to be very happy with all of the effort that folks from Montana put into the Capitol Christmas tree this year.”
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