Tribe reflects on 40 years of war declaration

BONNERS FERRY — Kootenai Tribe of Idaho chair Gary Aitken Jr. comes from a long line of strong leaders.

His grandmother, Amy Trice, was chairwoman of the tribe in 1974 when, on Sept. 20, the tribe declared war on the United States.

Now, 40 years later to the day, Aitken and the tribe will present a commemoration of the anniversary of this symbolic war-of-the-pen, with a showing of Sonja Rosario’s documentary, “Idaho’s Forgotten War: A Lost Tale of Courage” at 6 p.m. Saturday in the Becker Auditorium.

“All the good we enjoy, we owe to these leaders,” Aitken said. “They went through the tough decisions and hard times to pave the way for us. Through hardship and sacrifice, they blazed a trail and forged new ground for a better life.”

Aitken says the tribe has prospered since around 60 members of the tribe that were left in 1974 boarded up the tribal office in Bonners Ferry and began drumming and singing, while armed and nervous police officers surrounded the building.

“It was a time when we had to stand up for ourselves to make things right,” Aitken says.

“We had to believe in ourselves, and believe that we were important enough to stand up for.”

Though some tribal members brought weapons and were prepared for war, Aitken says Trice told them to leave their guns in their cars.

“This was a war of the pen, a war of words,” Aitken says. “It was a way for the small to be mighty. In a real war, we would have been gone in a heartbeat. The people were prepared for it, but cooler heads prevailed.”

Tensions were tight in Bonners Ferry as tribal members set up pickets and started charging a toll on Highway 95.

At a time of national racial tension regarding native Americans, and with locals passing out fake hunting tags for Indians, it was lucky a massacre wasn’t sparked, Aitken said.

Trice and tribal advisor Doug Wheaton finally went to Washington, where President Gerald Ford signed a bill that transferred St. Michael’s Mission, 12.5 acres of federal land (upon which the Kootenai already lived) to the tribe for a reservation.

Forty years later, the tribe has nearly tripled in size and owns more than 2,500 acres of land, much of it wildlife habitat.

“We have made a lot of progress,” Aitken says.

He points to the tribe’s clinic, where members can receive health care without having to drive to Lapwai, and the newly expanded tribal police force.

“This has provided health, safety and security for our people,” he says.

The tribe’s Kootenai River Inn and Casino is one of the county’s largest employers.

“We want to help the county survive and thrive,” Aitken says.

“We had to fight perceptions of who we are and what was going to happen there. We strive to have a higher standard and exceed expectations. We approach government and business dealings with pride, dignity, honesty and integrity.”

The tribe could have used their new-found power in any way, Aitken says, but prefers to be community-minded with it.

“This is our community. It always has been,” Aitken says. “It’s bigger now but we embrace it. We have a stake in the community doing well and want to help make it a better place to be.”

To Aitken, community means giving a part of yourself to the greater good.

It’s a reward in its own right, he says. He likes to plant a seed and see the fruits of his labor, and loves to see the change he is trying to affect take place.

Part of the improvement for the greater good is seen in the tribe’s Kootenai River restoration project.

The tribe remains instrumental in the recovery of the Kootenai River white sturgeon at the tribal hatchery and wrote the book on the unique species.

On Oct. 9, they will open the Twin Rivers Hatchery, which will have expanded sturgeon rearing and cutting-edge burbot work.

“We have become well-recognized leaders in the field,” Aitken says, “leading with dignity and honor has gained us a reputation.”

Restoration of the Kootenai River habitat is more than just adding fish to a struggling ecosystem, Aitken says.

“We need to achieve a natural balance and achieve our goals within today’s society.

“Everything is connected, and we need to heal the whole, not just parts. Every piece is a vibrant part of the puzzle, and the picture is bigger than we can envision.”

The Kootenai like to make decisions with seven generations in mind, not just the current one, Aitken says. With all their success, the Kootenai are in danger of becoming their own worst enemies.

“We spent generations just trying to survive,” Aitken says. “Now we have to acquire and develop the tools to thrive, not simply survive.”

Aitken worries that the apathy of not having opportunity has turned into the apathy of having everything at your fingertips. To thrive, he says, people need a sense of accomplishment, and of making a difference.

“Our young people are proud to be who they are,” he says, “and the more they learn about our accomplishments, the prouder they are.”

Aitken also wants his people to gain the tools to deal with grief, hardship and loss without turning to drugs and alcohol.

“We have to rise above drugs and other influences,” he says. “Everyone is affected in one way or another by alcohol and drug use.”

With traditions fading, culture and ceremonies that were once kept hidden and close are important to pass on, but the idea of culture is fluid, Aitken says.

“We keep as much as we can,” he says, “we keep our memory and legacy, and honor our past as we walk into the future.”

Anger at the past treatment of his people is also not helpful to Aitken.

“There’s no sense in holding a grudge forever,” he says. “With good communication, differences fall by the wayside. My history and past has given me the experience to empathize with people.”

Many people get emotional immediately, and that puts up a wall, Aitken says. If you can see where someone is coming from, you’re in a better position to be productive.

“No one fits in a box. There is common ground for all of us somewhere. Once we reach that, then things can happen,” he says.