The Camas Hot Springs Exchange

"The Selish Lord" is what the Indians of the Confederated Selish tribes on the Jocko reservation in northwestern Montana call the life-size painting of the Indian conception of Christ. Painted in 1957 by Sam Wiprud of Arlee and the late Mrs. Wiprud with Jerome Vanderburg, Selish leader, as the model, the painting hangs in the little Jocko mission church east of Arlee.

(Sorry we can't give you the picture, which is a beautiful one, as our engravings can only be made from photographs on glossy paper.)

It is the best picture of what we would like for a likeness of Christ.

MADONNA PAINTING SOON TO HANG BY EARLIER WORK

By Betty Butler

Arlee Mont., May 2-An unusual painting hangs in the entry of the tiny Catholic mission church atop a green hill in the Jocko valley of northwestern Montana. The painting, life size, depicts a man, hand upraised in a familiar gesture of benediction, head encircled by a halo but instead of the usual artist's conception of Christ the face is an Indian face under a feathered war bonnet.

The painting is called "The Selish Lord" by Indians of the Jocko reservation, members of the Confederated Selish tribes, and it represents the Indian conception of Christ.

Mountains in the background represent Montana: the war bonnet signifies that Christ is a chief in war against sin. The Sacred Heart and flames the cross and the crown of thorns in the painting signify the love and sacrifice by which sin will be overcome according to the Rev. Cornelius Byrne, S. J., who serves the church.

Completed in 1957

The painting was completed in 1957 by Sam Wiprud of Arlee and his late wife who collaborated on many Indian paintings. The model was Jerome Vandenburg a leader of the Selish.

The honor of posing for the portrait was a great one and not lightly conferred. Father Byrne says. Vandenberg is older than the painting indicates but the classic Indian features and the delicate looking, gentle hands are easily recognizable. He was chosen not only for his physical appearance according to Father Byrne but because he is of an old and highly respected family and because the parishioners of the church he was deserving of the honor.

The church itself-St. John Berchman's church is small and sparsely furnished but well kept-up by the Indians themselves. For many years under the supervision of the Jesuit Fathers at St. Ignatius mission it has served the spiritual needs of the Selish.

Not far away are two old Jocko mission buildings where the Ursuline Sisters once had a school; farther down the rolling slopes of the valley are the remains of the Jocko agency where Maj. Peter Ronan administered the affairs of the Selish tribes after they were exiled from their own Bitterroot valley and moved to the Jocko reservation.

Father Byrne is attempting now to enlist the aid of some organization to have the old agency building restored. The Indians are in the process of renovating the cemetery behind the church, where their dead have been buried since they were forced to leave their traditional home.

On Memorial Day a companion painting portraying the Madonna as the Indians think of her will be dedicated and will hang beside "The Selish Lord." It also is the work of Mr. Wiprud.

Though the garb and the Indian features of the Indian's Christ seem unusual to the white men, the artist has brought out the same patience and firmness of purpose and gentleness that mark more conventional pictures of Jesus. The Indians believe it carries a message that Christ belongs equally to all men everywhere.