Spokane Garry
Spokane Garry was a significant figure in the history of the Spokane people, known for his leadership and efforts to navigate the challenges posed by increasing white encroachment in the mid-19th century. After attending a Hudson's Bay Company school in Canada between 1825 and 1830, he returned to his community, where he established a church and began teaching English, agriculture, and Christianity. As a pacifist, Garry opposed violent measures against fellow Indigenous peoples and sought to prevent conflict during the Yakima War of 1855-1856. Despite his efforts to promote peace, he was ultimately compelled to join the Spokane warriors in the 1858 Battle of Four Lakes, which ended in defeat. Garry advocated for treaty negotiations to mitigate tensions between Indigenous groups and white settlers, believing that peaceful resolutions were preferable to armed conflict. His later years saw a shift in his focus, as he distanced himself from religious factionalism and engaged in traditional practices such as bison hunting. By middle age, Spokane Garry had accumulated wealth and was recognized for his skills as a negotiator, making a lasting impact on his community's response to the encroaching changes of the time.
Spokane Garry
- Born: 1811
- Birthplace: Near the junction of the Latah Creek and Spokane River (now in Washington)
- Died: January 14, 1892
- Place of death: Indian Canyon, near Spokane, Washington
Category: Chief
Tribal affiliation: Spokane (Salish)
Significance: Spokane Garry both led his tribe in battle against whites and sought to Christianize his people
Spokane Garry went to a Hudson’s Bay Company school in Canada (1825-1830). On returning home, he built a tule mat church and commenced teaching English, agriculture, and the Christian religion. As a pacifist, he opposed the policy held by the Hudson’s Bay Company of encouraging chiefs to flog Indians who committed crimes. He also restrained the Spokanes from joining the Yakimas and other Plateau groups in warfare against the whites during the Yakima War of 1855-1856. Yet because of the absence of treaties, increasing Spokane grievances against white incursion, and the military expedition by Colonel Edward Steptoe, Spokane Garry was forced to join other Indian warriors in the 1858 Battle of Four Lakes, losing to Colonel George Wright. He continued, however, to encourage the Spokanes to negotiate treaties to avoid violence in relation to what he believed was inevitable domination by whites.
He became disillusioned with Calvinistic revivalists Cushing Eells and Elkahah Walker and their establishment of Tshimakain Mission (1838), which increased religious factionalism. Eventually he gave up his teaching and preaching and joined the Spokane in hunting bison on the Plains. In middle age he was considered wealthy, having many horses and a productive farm. He was known for his abilities as a skillful negotiator.