Info on Indian Reservations (Kalispell, Havre: employment, to buy, construction)

[GEORGIAINMT]

I am a white woman who has spent some time in Browning for my job. I had heard the stories before about being careful there, so I was a little intimidated when I first got to town. I soon found that I wasn't scared at all. I was a school photographer so was there for a few days at a time taking pics in the schools. I never had any problems with any of the local people, either during school or during my evenings in the motel or cafes. I stayed at the motel that is right on the main street, just as you go around the big curve (sorry, can't remember the name, maybe Western Motel or something like that). The people who own it are white and are very nice. The gentleman has tattoos & some physical characteristics that might scare some people, but he is one of the kindest men I've ever met. Even though I don't like the winter weather (cold & really windy) in & around Browning and it is pretty remote, I didn't have any complaints about the town or people. I did this job up until about 2 1/2 years ago, so I don't think things have changed much in that short period of time. Of course, people should use caution wherever they may travel, and generally heed the advice of those who have been there, but I wouldn't avoid the place because you're scared to be there. That's just my opinion from personal experience.

[allforcats]

Georgianmt, that's wonderful that you had a fulfilling experience in Browning. Perhaps part of the reason is that you were there with a purpose, for a period of time, and to benefit the children. That's great, and I'm so glad for you! Did you like the Museum?

I lived in Whitefish and Kalispell, and when I went through the Park I then would drive through Browning to get back to Hwy. 2 to go back to the Flathead Valley. So I had no long-term experience of the Reservation. Folks in W.F. and Kal pretty much universally spoke with disdain for Browning. I didn't believe them and thought they were being bigoted, arrogant, scare-mongering, etc. The first time I drove through Browning, I realized that the sooner I was out of there, the more likely my car and I would stay in one piece, even though I can pretty easily "blend into the background" to not stand out.

I'm so glad you had such a positive experience!

[rickers]

Motos are OK on the Flathead Res. Street licenced on the county and state road systems and with a tribal rec. permit a street licenced bike of any type can be ridden on the tribal logging roads that are open. Motocross bikes can use the private MX tracks.

[jimj]

Originally Posted by allforcats

Georgianmt, that's wonderful that you had a fulfilling experience in Browning. Perhaps part of the reason is that you were there with a purpose, for a period of time, and to benefit the children. That's great, and I'm so glad for you! Did you like the Museum?

I lived in Whitefish and Kalispell, and when I went through the Park I then would drive through Browning to get back to Hwy. 2 to go back to the Flathead Valley. So I had no long-term experience of the Reservation. Folks in W.F. and Kal pretty much universally spoke with disdain for Browning. I didn't believe them and thought they were being bigoted, arrogant, scare-mongering, etc. The first time I drove through Browning, I realized that the sooner I was out of there, the more likely my car and I would stay in one piece, even though I can pretty easily "blend into the background" to not stand out.

I'm so glad you had such a positive experience!

I'd heard the same things from day one living in this valley and unfortunately it's been my experience that I was being told the truth. I didn't believe it either until having run in's with the people from browning when they came to the water slides in the summer... Not a fun time.

[rickers]

That reminds me of a time I was on a ski trip to Mammoth and after skiing we went to Hot Creek To soak for a while. Two buses parked and when the folks started down the path to the hot pool in the creek the noise level got louder and louder until no body could even talk. 80 people in all jumped into the water, most with pants and shirts on and commenced to crowd out everyone else by splashing, bumping into people and giving dirty stares and comments. Every one who was there peacefully enjoying the soaking were suddenly driven out of the water from all the obnoxious noise and behavior.
Guess where the two bus city folk ski tour originated, Watts California !

[Born&raisedMT]

I grew up on the Flathead Indian Reservation. My mother is a tribal member, my dad is white, so I look pretty white. My mom was raised by an adopted white family, so we were fairly removed from the tribe and tribal people until I left home and attended a tribal high school then the tribal college- all the while looking very white (I was the only blond in my high school class). I can count on one hand the number of times I caught anti-white comments.I also attended powwows, worked for tribal agencies took Salish language classes, etc. However, I cannot count the number of anti-Indian comments I had directed at me, as well as unpleasant situations I was put into because of my mother's Indian appearance. This continues now that I have left the reservation. In my experience- and I could be TOTALLY wrong about this- white people who think Indians are angry, hateful people, are white people that feel so much guilt and reservations (no pun intended) over white/Indian history that they don't know how to cope with it, and are too uncomfortable around Indians. I'm sorry if I've offended anyone, but I hope it will be considered. Also, your fear of Indians give them power, and well, something to play around with. A wonderful sense of humor has gotten native peoples a loonnnnnnng way baby. xest sqest

[Reziac]

Originally Posted by TypicalCalifornian

People who belive poverty is about money and not values are likely to understand neither

Exactly. There is a BIG difference between "being poor" and "having no money", and it lies in people's values and behaviour, not in their bank account.

When I was growing up, we had no money, but we were never, ever "poor".

[charolastra00]

This is interesting... I was just about to recommend Browning when I read all of this! Has it changed that much in 10 years? My family stayed several nights in a hotel in the center of Browning and had plenty of contact with the natives and they were all very friendly- even to my blond haired blue eyed father (who is a quarter native, but you can't tell) and brother! All of the native features that my grandmother has seemed to skip a generation on to me, but that's no reason anyone would be courteous to my family. Heck, they even answered some of mine and my younger brother's more ridiculous questions about native life that were blurted out in restaurants, gas stations, etc in a way that only children can do.

Where is all this hostility that we missed out on?

[glacierparkinc.]

Originally Posted by rickers

Just a word of advice about going to Browning and I hope nobody from Browning jumps on me for this. Browning can be a very dangerous place for naive tourists. I have had run-ins with angry people there and all I did was try to drive through the town on the highway. Way too many people there seem to have more hatred for white people than other Native Americans in other areas. I live on the Flathead Reservation and I really don't want to go near the Blackfeet Res. Sorry to offend anyone in or from Browning but the truth often hurts !

I was born in Browning and raised in Havre and Babb, the people of Brownings only shot is tourism and if people are afraid of indians how are we ever going to prosper. I truly believe that if you were to stop to gas up and engage in conversation you would be pleasently surprised by how everyone is open, curious and most of all comical. Please people enough is enough you do not have to fear browning. Montanans have a lot to learn about humanity.

[glacierparkinc.]

Did you know that after the buffalo were killed in an attempt to exterminate the natives the U.S. made a deal where they would feed the people for ten years in exchange for the eastern portion of Glacier National Park. But during these ten years most of the indian people starved to death because the food they were provided included rancid pig heads. Can you believe this was less than a century ago?

How much has changed since then?