Hell Gate Treaty plays in Arlee
Berl Tiskus
Governor Stevens, alias Karl Stein, speaks condescendingly to the Salish, Kootenai and Upper Pend’Oreille chiefs as Moise, alias Willie Stevens, waits for his lines.l
Berl Tiskus
Chief Victor, alias Rob McDonald, speaks about the dilemma he and the Salish people face. Governor Stevens was urging the Salish to move from the Bitterroot.
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ARLEE — Victor Charlo became Red Wolf, Arrianna Matt sang the songs of the storyteller and Rob McDonald read Chief Victor’s lines as the Hell Gate Treaty came to life on stage at the Hangin Art Gallery on Aug. 7.
The play was part of a week of Npustin’s KwKwusm Theatre Projects third annual Native American Playwriting Festival called “Old Stories, New Voices.”
Playwright Jennifer Finley wrote “Hell Gate Treaty: We Are This Land” and KTP Artistic Director William S. Yellow Robe, Jr., directed the play. The play will also be performed on Missoula Public Radio.
Finley, an award-winning poet and journalist, said this was her first play. Finley graduated from Arlee High School, received her bachelor’s degree in New Mexico and her master’s degree in Arizona
Theatre is an accessible way to learn history, Finley said. She included actual parts of Governor Stevens’ speech into the play. Stevens, who negotiated the treaty for the United States, was played smarmily by Karl Stein.
Finley said she added talk between Chief Victor and his wife, Agnes, read by Ruth Swaney, to add to the historical bones of the play.
KwKwusm Theatre Project’s plays and performances are developed and written on the Flathead Reservation.
Also performed were “Trickster at Dirty Corner” by Victor A. Charlo and Zan Agzigian, on Aug. 5; The Salish Institute Youth Storystellers on Aug. 6; “Thieves” by William S. Yellow Robe, Jr., on Aug. 7 and “The Dink Brothers” by Julie Cajune and Jennifer Finley on Aug. 8.
