Antoine Moiese and Michael are two Native American men captured in a black and white

Antoine Moiese and Michael are two Native American men captured in a black and white photograph taken by Edward H. Boos between 1905 and 1907 on the Flathead Indian Reservation in western Montana.


The image is a glimpse into the lives of individuals from the Flathead Nation, which consists of the Bitterroot Salish, Pend d'Oreille, and the Kootenai tribes. At the turn of the 20th century, photography was a powerful tool for documenting and preserving the culture and history of indigenous peoples. Edward H. Boos was likely an itinerant or professional photographer who visited the reservation to take portraits of its residents, which were either commissioned or sold as part of a growing interest in anthropological and ethnographic studies.

The Flathead Indian Reservation is home to the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes and is located in the northwestern part of the state, encompassing a significant portion of Lake Flathead. The reservation was established by the Hellgate Treaty of 1855, and over the decades, the U.S. government's policies towards Native Americans have influenced the lives of its inhabitants. The period when this photograph was taken coincided with the era of the Indian Reservation system's assimilation policies, which aimed to integrate Native Americans into the dominant American culture. This included the establishment of boarding schools, the promotion of English language use, and the adoption of European-American agricultural practices and land management.

The men are dressed in a mix of traditional and Western attire, which was not uncommon at the time. They both wear hats that might suggest a blending of cultural influences, with Grizzly Door wearing a hat that appears more aligned with traditional Native American headgear, while Michael's hat has a more Western style. Their clothing may also reflect their individual choices or the limited resources available to them.

Their expressions are stoic, which is typical of the time in portrait photography, particularly among Native American subjects who were often encouraged to adopt a solemn pose for the camera. The background of the photograph is relatively simple, focusing the viewer's attention on the two men and their attire. The presence of a chair in the image could indicate a staged setting, which was typical for portrait photography during this period.

While the specific context and stories behind this image are limited, it serves as a visual record of the people who lived on the Flathead Reservation over a century ago. It reminds us of the rich cultural heritage of the Native American communities and the importance of preserving their history and traditions.