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In Their Footsteps – Buffalo Moccasins

October 22, 2022 by Volunteer Curator

Mary (Beaverhead) Smallsalmon’s Moccasins

Currently on display is a beautifully beaded pair of high-top moccasins worn by Mary (Beaverhead) Smallsalmon (1909-1995).  Though we don’t know a lot about her, we do know that she belonged to the Qlispe (Pend-d’Oreille) Tribe and was born about 1909 in the Mission Valley.  Below is a picture of Mary with her brother Pete and mother, Mat-A-Len.  When Bud Cheff Jr showed Mary this photo in her later years, she was delighted having never seen a photo of her mother.

Mary and Pete Beaverhead with their mother, Mat-A-Len

“Mary was raised in the old traditional lifestyle, and was at home on a horse” recalls Bud Cheff Jr.  “Her father was known by all the Northwest tribes as having fast race horses.”  Her father was Alex Beaverhead, son of Palomine who later became the wife of Louis Mollman (see previous post on Mollman family here).  She married Michel Smallsalmon, and lived out her life here on the Flathead Reservation.  She walked on in 1995 at the age of the age of 86.

Made of buffalo hide and buffalo nickel buttons.
Beadwork on back of moccasins that were cut in the traditional Salish pattern with no seam on the insole.

Moccasins on loan and on display at the museum, courtesy Bud Cheff Jr.  Please take a moment to stop by and say hello before the summer is over to see what else is new at the museum!

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News & Community

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  • In Their Footsteps – The Mollmans at Ninepipes Museum

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Ninepipes Museum of Early Montana is listed as a Blue Star Memorial Museum, able to offer free admission to the nation’s active duty military personnel and their families, including National Guard and Reserve, from Memorial Day through Labor Day.

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69316 Highway 93 Charlo, MT 59824

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Testimonials

This is one of the most exquisite displays of Euro/Indian cultural meeting I’ve seen. Beautifully organized and displayed — Connie, Gig Harbor, WA

Very thoughtful narrative and photos and artwork. Good to hear detail told in its timeline. Wish I had more time to spend. Thank you — Penny, Grand Rapids, MI

What a wonderful introduction to the people of the area and their history. Thank you. — Adam, Worcester, MA

Learned so much about local Native American tribes. Extremely interesting. — Bernadette, Bennington, VT

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Ninepipes Museum of Early Montana

69316 Highway 93 Charlo, MT 59824

Ninepipes Museum of Early Montana is a 501(c)3 non-profit located in rural Northwest Montana. Donations are tax deductible.

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