The Camas Hot Springs Exchange

The Reservation Pioneers
Guest Editorial
By J. F. McAlear

On August 16 of this year, the first annual picnic of the Reservation Pioneers was held with 200 of the "old-timers" their friends and relatives attending. Persons from miles around were in attendance and its success was proven by the jubilant expressions of renewing old acquaintances and reminiscing over the days of the past.

This year's activities were largely organizational, but next year and the years to come, the annual reunions will be bigger and better and worth-while progress will be planned.

This organization has pledged its cooperation and support of the events planned for the Golden Jubilee celebration to be staged in the towns and communities of the reservation next year. This, being a tremendous undertaking, will require the help and knowledge of many of our members. Coinciding with the Golden Jubilee celebration, the year of eligibility for membership in our group was set at 1910. But due to the fact that many pioneers selected their homesteads in 1910 and did not establish residence until 1911 and 1912, it was decided the deadline for eligibility of membership would, therefore, be established at 1912. To keep the organization active thru the coming years, a later date may still be set.

As persons grow older their desire is to leave some one thing for the enjoyment and for the use of future generations. With this in mind the Pioneers have begun to assemble historical data for use in the publication of a book which story will cover the events from the early 18th century era until the present time. A committee of ten, well-qualified personnel have been appointed to complete this mammoth task.

The history of the reservation is colorful. The area is one of the youngest developed regions in the United States. The last 50 years has seen the change from an open cattle and buffalo range to one of the finest diversified valleys in the northwest; from a horse and buggy track across the vast plains, the oiled highways and maintained country roads. Many other changes include our modern hospitals, our churches, our schools and many, many more.

Financing is required for any organization to remain active. The Reservation Pioneers will be incorporated - there is office expense; expenses for the compilation of the historical data needed for the book which will be published; expenses which will incur for the participation in the events planned for 1960; and miscellaneous other expenditures. Therefore, a nominal annual membership fee has been established.

It is hoped that the membership in the Reservation Pioneers will continue to increase. Everyone eligible to join can receive a share in the many good things that are to come and by doing so can leave an everlasting imprint on the history of the Flathead Indian Reservation country.