As the legend goes, there were three chiefs. The old chief was a wise and revered man, respected by all until the day his son met with a tragic accident and died. The chief was overcome with pain and he blamed God for taking away his child. He questioned God's wisdom and good until the tribe could not stand it a moment longer. They feared for their children and their future should he continue. The other chiefs in the tribe asked the old chief if he thought that God was bad and that they should return to living like animals in the forest. They had worked hard to love and understand God, but would do what the chief wished.
The old chief didn't have the answer, so he set off for what is now called Mount Spokane with nothing but the clothes on his back, hoping to have a vision that would tell him. After a time with just snow to drink and no food, he did have a vision. The sky opened up and God said, "Your son is happy here with me, have faith" and went on to speak of people with white flesh coming to his people with a book. This book would have many words about God in it and the old chief should not harm these people, for the world would not end until after they had come.
The old chief returned to his tribe and told them of his vision. He left out the part about the white skinned people because he feared they would not understand.
Many years went by and the chief became older. A day came that an eruption occurred on what is known as Helena, spewing white ashes into the air and causing night to come during day. The tribe was afraid and certain that the world was ending. The old chief told them it was not, for God had promised it wouldn't until after the whites came.
The tribesman stayed by the old chief, listening to his words of God and what he had promised. The most respected chief in the tribe was named Chief Ileum, and he listened intently. He had brought his son, 5 year old Garry to hear what the man would say. Garry felt the old chief's vision was his vision, too, and he would wait anxiously for the arrival of the white skinned men.
The first whites came when Garry was 9 years old, but they did not know of God. Several years passed until priests came to visit the tribe. They carried this book of God and asked Chief Ileum if Garry might come with them to learn. The chief refused until Garry reminded him of the vision, saying that he must go with them. Chief Ileum agreed.
Garry was an eager student and loved to learn. He was whipped once for breaking the rules and bit the upperclassmen that held him steady for the punishment. The boys ear showed blood but he forgave Garry. This was when Garry knew that these were good, forgiving people.
A time came when two boys, sons of tribal chiefs, died from the measels. The priests feared that they would be blamed, but Garry made the journey to speak with his father. The priests were not blamed and Garry was welcomed. The tribe listened intently to all he had to say. They learned to pray and to worship God so intently that passerby could not disturb them, choosing instead to join them.
Other tribes sent members down to learn from Garry and his tribe. He taught at the school at Drumheller Springs for indian children. He was a peaceful man and chief, preaching acceptance and tolerance, teaching that we all have the same blood in us regardless of our skin color. Despite what the whites did to his people, the various wars against them, he always advised his tribe not to use violence.
Chief Garry died in his teepee at Indian Canyon Falls 1892 and now rests at Greenwood Cemetery under the monument bearing his name.
