NO. 7 SOIION's portraits of INDIANS — EWERS 5I 



chief after two others, Andre and Pierre, declined the office. (Teit, 

 1930, p. 377.) He was probably one of the Michelles who signed the 

 Flathead Treaty and possibly the Michelle who signed the Blackfoot 

 Treaty in 1855. ^^^ took no speaking i)art in cither Council. As 

 Pend d'Oreille head chief he represented the tribe in the Council 

 to negotiate for the right-of-way of the Northern Pacific Railway on 

 the reservation, September 2, 1882, and at the meeting with members 

 of the subcommittee of the United States Senate appointed to visit 

 the Indian tribes of northern Montana on September 7, 1882. (Ronan, 

 1890, pp. 54, 76.) 



In his Annual Report of September 1874 Peter Whaley, the Flat- 

 head Agent, recommended that Michelle should be replaced by Andre, 

 second chief of the tribe. The Agent pointed out that on their buflalo 

 hunts east of the mountains the Pend d'Oreille were in the habit of 

 stealing horses from friends and foes alike and refused to return 

 the animals to their proper owners. Michelle, who at the time was 

 physically unable to accompany his people on their hunts, was power- 

 less to prevent the thefts or to compel restitution. Andre, on the 

 other hand, had the confidence of his people and was the real leader 

 of the tribe. (Ann. Rep. Comm. Ind. Aff., 1874, pp. 262-263.) 

 The new Flathead Agent in 1875 reported that Andre was "chief in 

 all but drawing a salary from the government." (Ibid., 1875, P- 3^4-) 

 Agent Peter Ronan investigated the cause of the dissension in 1877. 

 He found Michelle a "good-meaning" man who had to a large extent 

 lost contact with his people. Michelle lived at the Agency while his 

 people were located near St. Ignatius Mission some 20 miles away. 

 When decisions needed to be made, Andre, who lived with the tribe. 

 generally made them. If a case was later taken to Michelle, he 

 generally reversed Andre's decision, causing further dissatisfaction. 

 Michelle seemed well aware of the fact that he had lost contact with 

 his people and considered moving back to live among them in order 

 to regain his lost influence. (Ibid., 1877, p. 136.) 



Michelle's popularity was not increased by his severe punishments. 

 He whipped female adulterers, common among his people, so severely 

 as to cause the deaths of some women. Agent Medery found it neces- 

 sary to prevail upon Michelle to resort to milder punishment. (Ibid., 

 1876, p. 89.) 



In spite of the dissatisfaction of many of his people, the opposition 

 of Andre, and the recommendation of at least one Agent that he be 

 deposed, Michelle continued in the position of head chief. He won 

 the respect of Agent Ronan during the Nez Perce War of 1877. 



