Isadore, Kutenai,185?-1894,
He was chief of the Ktunaxa and a very influential presence
in the area during the late 19th century through an intense period
of change. As the buffalo herds of the prairies of Alberta and
Montana diminished and cut off the Ktunaxa from their traditional
food supply, the hunters shifted to cattle raising and farming.
At the same time settlers were entering the valley in search of
gold and staying to take land. Chief Isadore, described by Superintendent
Sam Steele as the most influential chief he had ever encountered,
was born into a position of authority and was able to use his
strong personality and personal wealth to lead his people. He
also formed a strong connection to the Oblates of Mary Immaculate
at the St. Eugene Mission, which added to his authority but was
unable to prevent the changes around him from affecting his people
and their lifestyle. When, in 1884, Indian Commissioner Peter
O’Reilly set aside land for Chief Isadore and his people,
he probably did not consider all the needs and wants of those
most affected. The offer excluded the land known traditionally
as A’qkis ga’kleet, later as Joseph’s Prairie
and then Cranbrook, which was a major camping spot and had been
used for his horses as well as the plentiful hunting and fishing
by Chief Isadore and his people for years. Colonel James Baker
ignored Chief Isadore’s claims to Joseph’s Prairie
and his long history of use of the land there, and tensions increased
until only Superintendent Sam Steele in 1887 was able to set up
negotiations resulting in a stand down. In later years, Chief
Isadore focused on his farm and land on the edge of the Kootenay
River. He died in 1894 from a strain of the flu that infected
many of his people that winter. At his funeral he was described
as a remarkable person with strong will and considerable authority.
