Life at The Kalispel St. Ignatius Mission, Pend Oreille River (cont.)
[show Martin Graf 1910 - 1912 photo, Metaline Falls butcher, from PO County Historical Society, Bill Piper]
1847 Whitman’s were killed - personal safety was a concern.
In 1850, St. Mary's Mission, the first in the planned reduction system, was closed because the
- Flathead Indians did not respond to the new way of life preached by Priests and
- due to Blackfeet harassment.
For years, the Indians responded favorably to the Christian message. However, native customs were not so easily changed.
In spite of all this, Father Joset said in 1851 that the Indians are behaving well and a church is almost finished.