History of Chief Spokane Garry
WSSDAR file photo
Spokane Chapter, NSDAR, Spokane, Washington, was organized on April 23, 1921, with 27 charter members. The chapter name was changed in 1928 to Spokane Garry Chapter, NSDAR.
The chapter proudly bears the name of Spokane Garry; “Friend of the white man . . . acquainted with the white man’s ‘Book of Heaven '. . teacher and missionary …” (from his grave marker). Spokane Garry, the son of a chief of the Spokane Tribe, was born about 1811 at the Marian Village at the junction of the Spokane and Little Spokane Rivers. He was one of two chief’s sons; who were chosen by the Hudson Bay Company to go to an American missionary school at Fort Garry near present-day Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada to learn English, math, and agricultural techniques. Although his name in the Salish language originally was Slough-Keetcha, he was renamed “Spokane Garry” in honor of his tribe and the deputy governor of the Hudson Bay Company, Nicholas Garry.
About 1830, after five to seven years of schooling, he returned to his tribe to teach his people what he had learned. He started a school near the junction of the Spokane and Little Spokane Rivers and later a second school on a bluff on the north side now known as Drumheller Springs. He served as a translator in a high negotiating capacity between the settlers, the governor of the territory, and his native people. He continuously worked for peace among all.
In 1888 his farm of more than 20 years was taken away from him as Indians had no legal rights. He and his wife, Nina, moved to a camp on Latah Creek, then to Indian Canyon where he died on January 12, 1892. He was buried in a pauper’s grave.
Spokane Garry Chapter, NSDAR, arranged to have his remains moved to a permanent location. On June 13, 1925, the chapter was instrumental in erecting a monument at his gravesite near the entrance to Greenwood Cemetery and later moving his wife, Nina’s, remains to his side and marking them also. Markers for his daughters are placed in the cemetery at Worley, Idaho.
In 1940, First Regent Matie Wetherill purchased the site of Spokane Garry’s second school at Drumheller Springs and deeded it to the Spokane Garry Chapter, NSDAR. In 1955 a hand-carved wooden marker, which told the story of Spokane Garry and his school, was erected on the site. In 1955, the chapter erected a granite marker and illuminated flag in the 1800 block of West Euclid Avenue.
In 1959, the chapter gave the land to the Spokane Parks Department with the provision that if it was ever not to be used as a park, the property would revert to the chapter. The chapter suggested and “lobbied” for the name of the planned school, Spokane Garry Junior High School, now Spokane Garry Middle School.
The chapter proudly bears the name of Spokane Garry; “Friend of the white man . . . acquainted with the white man’s ‘Book of Heaven '. . teacher and missionary …” (from his grave marker). Spokane Garry, the son of a chief of the Spokane Tribe, was born about 1811 at the Marian Village at the junction of the Spokane and Little Spokane Rivers. He was one of two chief’s sons; who were chosen by the Hudson Bay Company to go to an American missionary school at Fort Garry near present-day Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada to learn English, math, and agricultural techniques. Although his name in the Salish language originally was Slough-Keetcha, he was renamed “Spokane Garry” in honor of his tribe and the deputy governor of the Hudson Bay Company, Nicholas Garry.
About 1830, after five to seven years of schooling, he returned to his tribe to teach his people what he had learned. He started a school near the junction of the Spokane and Little Spokane Rivers and later a second school on a bluff on the north side now known as Drumheller Springs. He served as a translator in a high negotiating capacity between the settlers, the governor of the territory, and his native people. He continuously worked for peace among all.
In 1888 his farm of more than 20 years was taken away from him as Indians had no legal rights. He and his wife, Nina, moved to a camp on Latah Creek, then to Indian Canyon where he died on January 12, 1892. He was buried in a pauper’s grave.
Spokane Garry Chapter, NSDAR, arranged to have his remains moved to a permanent location. On June 13, 1925, the chapter was instrumental in erecting a monument at his gravesite near the entrance to Greenwood Cemetery and later moving his wife, Nina’s, remains to his side and marking them also. Markers for his daughters are placed in the cemetery at Worley, Idaho.
In 1940, First Regent Matie Wetherill purchased the site of Spokane Garry’s second school at Drumheller Springs and deeded it to the Spokane Garry Chapter, NSDAR. In 1955 a hand-carved wooden marker, which told the story of Spokane Garry and his school, was erected on the site. In 1955, the chapter erected a granite marker and illuminated flag in the 1800 block of West Euclid Avenue.
In 1959, the chapter gave the land to the Spokane Parks Department with the provision that if it was ever not to be used as a park, the property would revert to the chapter. The chapter suggested and “lobbied” for the name of the planned school, Spokane Garry Junior High School, now Spokane Garry Middle School.
Chief Spokane Garry School, 2000 Euclid Avenue, Spokane, Washington
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Monument at Greenwood Cemetery, Spokane, Washington
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Drumheller Springs, Spokane, Washington
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Spokane Garry Chapter, NSDAR, erected a marker on June 14, 1956, at Euclid and Oak Streets in Spokane commemorating a school located in the area in 1830. The marker is also dedicated to Spokane Garry, the teacher in whose honor the chapter is named. Pictured are Chapter Historian Mrs. H.C. Faubion, Dr. Thomas W. Bibb, I. H. Garry, great-grandson of Chief Garry, and Joseph R. Garry, great-great grandson.
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Photos courtesy of Spokane Garry Chapter, NSDAR. Banners free by PNGitem.
Website updated August 3, 2023. Contact the webmaster for technical issues.
Photos courtesy of Spokane Garry Chapter, NSDAR. Banners free by PNGitem.
Website updated August 3, 2023. Contact the webmaster for technical issues.
