Chief Garry

Born on the cusp of cataclysmic change, the details of Chief Spokane Garry’s straddle two cultures and epochs. The son of a chief, he was born around 1811 and grew up near white traders in the Spokane area; Garry's original Spokane Salish name was Slough-Keetcha but at age 14 he became Spokane Garry after his father sent him to the Red River Settlement's missionary school near present-day Winnipeg.

Section:Gallery

Sun., Jan. 16, 2022

Chief Garry, an influential leader for most of his long life, spent the end of his life in poverty, camping with his family in the Indian Canyon and Hangman Creek areas.

Courtesy Of Northwest Museum Of Arts And Culture Eastern Washington Historical Society
Spokane Chief Garry is pictured at 77 years old. The photograph belongs to local historian Barry Moses.

Dan Pelle The Spokeman-Review
A portrait Chief Garry, a chief of the Spokane tribe, in his old age.

Courtesy Of Northwest Museum Of Arts And Culture Eastern Washington State Historical Society
This portrait likely was taken in 1887 during a meeting between the Indian Agent and members of several tribes. During this meeting the Spokane tribe agreed to give up all lands outside the reservation and move to the Coeur d’Alene reservation. Top row, from left: Rob Fleet (Indian Agency interpreter), R.D. Gwydir (Colville Indian agent), James Gibson (Indian Agency clerk); middle: Billy Mason (Spokane Indian), Seltice (Coeur d’Alene Chief), Garry (Upper Spokane Chief), a nephew of Seltice; front: Nellie (daughter of Chief Garry, a Coeur d’Alene Indian), Pier Bartholemew (subchief).

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