GUIDE TO CATHOLIC RECORDS ABOUT NATIVE AMERICANS IN THE U.S.
Volume 3: Western United States
Montana: MT-35

Since ca. 1820s

The Northwest Fur Company employed lay Iroquois Catholics from Canada who intermarried and catechized among the Salish Indians

1831, 1834, 1837, and 1841

Four delegations of Salish, Iroquois, and Nez Perce Indians attempted to reach and request Jesuit missionaries the Bishop of St. Louis; only the first and fourth delegations reached St. Louis to make their requests whereas the others were killed in route by Indians from enemy tribes. Narcisse and Paul, two Salish Indians of the first delegation, died in 1831 and were buried in the St. Louis cemetery

1841-1850 (closed)

In response to the fourth request, Rev. Pierre-Jean De Smet, S.J., visited the Northwest tribes in 1840-1841, and with other Jesuits (Turin, Province, Italy), he established St. Mary’s Mission and Academy (Salish)

1865-1866

Jesuits reopened and attended St. Mary’s from St. Ignatius

1866-1888

Jesuits administered St. Mary’s Mission and Academy

1891

Chief Charlo and the Salish Indians moved to the Flathead/ Jocko Reservation

1891-1904

Helena diocesan priests administered St. Mary’s

1904-present

Great Falls-Billings diocesan priests have administered St. Mary’s