Nez Perce elders bless school's new painting of Chief Joseph

By GAIL SCHONTZLER, Chronicle Staff Writer

Nez Perce tribal elder Horace Axtell sang a blessing song Tuesday at Bozeman's Chief Joseph Middle School to thank students and teachers for creating a large painting of the school's namesake, the chief who led his people through a tragic war in 1877.

The 12-foot-long painting depicts Chief Joseph, whose Indian name means Thunder Traveling Over the Mountains, mounted on horseback in his home territory at Wallowa Lake in Idaho.

It's a beautiful painting, said Axtell, 79, who traveled more than 400 miles for the event. He wore a traditional feather headdress and fringed and beaded buckskin clothing.

"You see the buffalo, the water, the mountains, the clouds, the eagle -- all part of our way of life, because our way of life is connected to nature," he said.

More than 500 sixth-, seventh- and eighth-graders applauded warmly when he was finished.

Chief Joseph was very concerned about education, Wilfred "Scotty" Scott, 73, a Nez Perce tribal executive committee member, told the students. "I know his spirit is surely smiling down on you."

The painting was started last October, said art teacher Brian Zimmer, thanks in large part to Kathryn Darling, a Chief Joseph parent who was the school's artist in residence, and a $2,000 grant from the Sweet Pea Festival.

Scores of students, especially those in the Art Club, worked on the painting, often after school, during recess and lunch breaks.

"I think it's really awesome," said Rachel Pohl, 11.

Kari Shelkey, 12, said it was "pretty cool" meeting the Nez Perce elders.

"At first, we didn't know, like, what we were painting about," she said. "We didn't really know who he was."

Scott and his wife, Bessie, came to the school in January to explain who Chief Joseph was. Scott told the story of his wife's great-great-grandparents, who were both wounded in the Battle of the Big Hole when the U.S. Army attacked on Aug. 9, 1877.

Chief Joseph fled with his people through Yellowstone National Park toward Canada, but the cavalry caught them just short of the border. Chief Joseph vowed then to fight no more, and he held true to his word, Axtell said.

Darling taught students how to stretch the canvas, apply gesso, translate small sketches to a larger scale using grids, mix acrylic paint and paint over mistakes. She painted the face of Chief Joseph and his horse, and students basically did the rest.

The best part for her, she said, was hearing students say, "'I can paint!'" and exposing them to the Nez Perce history.

"You're changed when you see another culture," she said. "You are not the only ones on planet Earth."

This summer the painting will be on display at the Gallatin County Courthouse. Color prints of the painting and a metal replica of its eagle will be sold to raise money for the school's art program, Darling said.

Scott said the Nez Perce today are not angry over what happened a century ago.

"To pack hate and animosity," he said, patting his heart, "creates hate and animosity."

Gail Schontzler is at gails@dailychronicle.com

Reader Comments