Near Sula in Ravalli County, Montana — The American West (Mountains)

Survival

Obtaining Vital Food, Supplies and Information

Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, May 11, 2018

1. Survival Marker

Inscription. A Customary and Proper Welcome
The Salish people gave the strangers many gifts during their brief encounter here at the Great Clearing.
They gave their guests roots, berries, animal furs, and vital information about the trails and tribes to the west.
As many of the Expedition’s horses were exhausted, the Salish also gave them a dozen "ellegant horses," wooden pack saddles, lash chords and three young colts.
The Salish gifts represented a huge amount of manual labor, which was primarily the work of Salish women, over countless days and months.
In return, the Salish graciously accepted two flags, four shirts, four medals, some tobacco, a few small articles, and seven lame horses.

Five Languages
The sound of the Salish language was fascinating to the explorers. Sergeant Whitehouse and Captain Clark said it had a throaty, "gurgling" tone spoken as with a "burr on the tongue."
Because it was a language no one in the Expedition spoke, transactions between the two groups went through five translations.
A Shoshone lad who lived with the Salish was able to translate to Sacajawea, who was also Shoshone, who passed the message to Charbonneau, her husband, in the Hidatsa language.
Charboneau translated to Labiche in

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French who then delivered the message to the captains in English.

Erected by U.S. Forest Service, National Park Service, Montana Department of Transportation.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Exploration • Native Americans. In addition, it is included in the Lewis & Clark Expedition series list.

Location. 45° 50.172′ N, 113° 58.782′ W. Marker is near Sula, Montana, in Ravalli County. Marker is on U.S. 93 near East Fork Road (State Highway 472), on the left when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 7060 US Highway 93, Sula MT 59871, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 10 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Mountains on the Move (here, next to this marker); First Impressions (here, next to this marker); The Great Clearing (a few steps from this marker); Join the Voyage of Discovery (a few steps from this marker); Ross' Hole (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Lewis and Clark at Ross' Hole (about 300 feet away); Big Horn Sheep Conservation (approx. 2.3 miles away); Salmon River Scenic Byway (approx. 10 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Sula.

Also see . . . For the Want of an Interpreter -- Lewis and Clark Corps of Discovery

Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, May 11, 2018

2. Survival Marker

marker 2nd from the left

. There was little difficulty in finding individuals who knew one or more of the Indian languages spoken along the lower Missouri River. French, Spanish, English and American settlers, trappers and traders had interacted with the tribes for years, and it was only natural that some of the frontiersmen married Indian women. The children of mixed white and Indian marriages often spoke the languages of both parents. George Drouillard (pronounced DREW-yar), the son of a French father and Shawnee mother, was one of them.... Next to the ability to speak one or more Indian languages, proficiency in French was a decided advantage. French-Canadian traders and trappers had lived among various Indian tribes for decades, and the expedition was sure to encounter a number of them along the way. Although he could not speak an Indian language, Private John Baptiste Lapage could translate French and English. (Submitted on September 22, 2018, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.)

Credits. This page was last revised on September 22, 2018. It was originally submitted on September 22, 2018, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 187 times since then and 13 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 22, 2018, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.