The book,
A Pretty Village: Documents of Worship and Culture Change, St. Ignatius Mission, Montana, 1880-1889, was edited by Robert J. Bigart. Published September 1, 2007 by Salish Kootenai College Press, it consists of contemporary documents which describe life at the mission.
The 1880s were a critical decade for the Salish and Kootenai people of the Flathead Indian Reservation in western Montana. The recent loss of the plains buffalo herds forced tribal members to look for new ways to support themselves. The priests and schools at St. Ignatius Mission taught many of the skills they needed, but not without simultaneously pressuring the Indian people to abandon valuable elements of Salish and Kootenai culture.
A Pretty Village is a collection of original documents describing life at St. Ignatius Mission and the interactions between missionaries and tribal people. Assembled from St. Ignatius church records, letters written by missionaries, reports of visiting newspapermen, government documents, and other sources, the collection provides detailed descriptions of events that affected the Indian community and in so doing takes the reader on a trip through time that will fascinate general readers and historians alike.
From Amazon
When one thinks of a mission, they generally think of a small wood frame or log church built in the wilderness to minister to the natives and the settlers. This mission is slightly different from one's preconceived notion. It is different both inside and out; inside in its cathedral like appointments and murals and outside in its sheer size.
This church, dedicated to St. Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Society of Jesus, was built in 1891. In 1840, Fr. Peter DeSiviet came to Montana in response to the request of four separate delegations of indians, and in 1841, he established St. Mary's Mission at Stevensville.
In 1854, St. Ignatius Mission was founded to serve the religious and educational needs of the Salish and Kootenai people. Father Hoecken and his jesuit helpers built the original log cabin which still stands on the north side of this church. within 35 years the mission included a large school, a sawmill, printing press, flour mill, hospital, farm and the present church.
The renowned murals in this church were painted by Br. Joseph Carignan, S.J., the mission cook.
In 1973, this mission was declared a National Historic Site.
From the sign at the Mission
Lake County's oldest town, founded in 1854 by Jesuit Missionaries, is home of the St. Ignatius Mission. St. Ignatius had the first residence school for Indians, first hospital, first saw mill, and first flour mill in the state.
The St. Ignatius Mission is over 100 years old and a visitor's delight. This beautiful landmark was built with local materials by Indians and missionaries in 1891. The million bricks were made with local clay, the lumber was cut in nearby foothills and the striking interior murals were designed and painted by brother Joseph Carignano. The 58 frescoes and murals on the church ceiling are worthy of European cathedrals. The St. Ignatius Church is open daily to visitors.
From Inland Northwest