Honoring and remembering
Monument is a healing tribute to Indian veterans
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Teepee poles 65 feet high and flying multicolored ribbons jut into the sky enclosing the new veterans' memorial in the Confederated and Salish Kootenai Tribal Complex.
Salish Kootenai College Art Department Head Corwin “Corky” Clairmont was one of the masterminds of the Eagle Circle project, from its conception about four years ago to completion.
Constructed of 25 granite slabs from northern Minnesota, the monument is etched with an eagle, whose massive wings curve around the inside of the semi-circle. Within the shelter of its wings are listed the names of more than 1,200 Indians from the Flathead Reservation who served in the United States armed forces.
“The eagle encompasses the vision of our people and sees what we’re doing,” Clairmont said.
The Eagle Circle Ksanka, Selis, Qlispe Warrior/Veterans Wall of Remembrance was dedicated July 14 in a three-hour ceremony beginning with Reveille and the posting of the United States of America flag, the Flathead Nation flag and the Canadian flag. Emcees Tony Incashola and Reuben Mathias guided the dedication.
Wreaths were placed on the memorial to honor the unknown warriors and warriors who are prisoners of war or missing in action.
Many warriors, with “names lost to history’s winds” were remembered, according to B.L. Azure, Vietnam War veteran and journalist for the Char-Koosta News.
Vietnam veteran Thomas Camel explained a victory song he learned from Johnny Arlee and sang the song with two fellow veterans, as tribal elders Octave Finley, Kenny McClure, Francis Stanger and Jimmy Finley Wunder led veterans in a victory dance to welcome them home and honor them.
Francis Cahoon and Laurence Kenmille shot ceremonial arrows.
The outside of the granite curve shows a panoramic view of the area, including Chief Cliff, McDonald Peak, a Salish and a Kootenai village, Wildhorse Island and Gray Wolf Peak. In the center on the opposite side of the eagle are a coyote and her pups.
