It is commonly believed that the Indian is hopelessly lazy, and that he will do no work whatever.  This misleading notion has been fostered by the writings of many ignorant people, extending over a long period of time.  The error had its origin in the fact that the work which the savage Indian does is quite different from that performed by the white laborer.  But it is certain that no men ever worked harder than Indians on a journey to war, during which they would march on foot hundreds of miles, carrying heavy loads on their backs, then have their fight, or take their horses, and perhaps ride for several days at a stretch, scarcely stopping to eat or rest.  That they did not labor regularly is of course true, but when they did work, their toil was very much harder than that ever performed by the white man.

The Blackfeet now are willing to work in the same way that the white man works.  They appreciate, as well as any one, the fact that old things have passed away, and that they must now adapt themselves to new surroundings.  Therefore, they work in the hay fields, tend stock, chop logs in the mountains, haul firewood, drive freighting teams, build houses and fences, and, in short, do pretty much all the work that would be done by an ordinary ranchman.  They do not perform it so well as white men would; they are much more careless in their handling of tools, wagons, mowing-machines, or other implements, but they are learning all the time, even if their progress is slow.

The advance toward civilization within the past five years is very remarkable and shows, as well as anything could show, the adaptability of the Indian.  At the same time, I believe that if it had not been for that fateful experience known as “the starvation winter,” the progress made by the Blackfeet would have been very much less than it has been.  The Indian requires a bitter lesson to make him remember.

But besides this lesson, which at so terrible a cost demonstrated to him the necessity of working, there has been another factor in the progress of the Blackfoot.  If he has learned the lesson of privation and suffering, the record given in these pages has shown that he is not less ready to respond to encouragement, not less quickened and sustained by friendly sympathy.  Without such encouragement he will not persevere.  If his crops fail him this year, he has no heart to plant the next.  A single failure brings despair.  Yet if he is cheered and helped, he will make other efforts.  The Blackfeet have been thus sustained; they have felt that there was an inducement for them to do well, for some one whom they trusted was interested in their welfare, was watching their progress, and was trying to help them.  They knew that this person had no private interest to serve, but wished to do the best that he could for his people.  Having an exaggerated idea of his power to aid them, they have tried to follow his advice, so as to obtain his good-will and secure his aid with the government.  Thus they have had always before them a definite object to strive for.