The Indian parfleche was the suitcase of the Plains Indians. Made of raw hide, they were painted by unidentified Native women. They contained food or house-hold items and were tied to the side of a horse on moving day. Tribal affinity can sometimes be determined by the design.
The bronze plaque mounted on the granite boulder denotes Charlie Russell’s final resting place. The foremost Montana artist, he documented the end of the Plains Indian era. As Ian Tyson sang, “Get her all down before she goes,” and “You’re in charge of sunsets up in old Montana, ‘Cause I (God) can’t paint them quite as good as you.” (The Gift)
Hannah and Matt were the young wranglers on a painting pack trip on horseback I took into the Bob Marshall Wilderness, just south of Glacier Park.
The bull buffalo will have to speak for himself.