Native American Leaders and Jesuits

The text reads: 

"[Native American Chiefs] came to Mission to inspect the church with purpose of building one for their own tribe situated across the mts. When they learned that the Frs. had built it from proceeds of sale of their own horses, the [Native Americans] returned home and invited the Fr. in charge of them to go and do likewise—He is still thinking about it.”

Archilde's mom tries to remember the days when the Jesuits first arrived. McNickle writes, "we have long asked for black-robed teachers, they who have no wives, and who carry the cross. Thrice we have sent runners to St. Louis as all men know" (McNickle, 174). The day the fathers came changed the reservation forever and we know, based off of Max Leon's reflection of the situation, that the priests had greater intentions upon their arrival to the reservation but those intentions were shifted by the funding needed from the government. 

Chief Baptist, a Jesuit Priest, and Six Children

Chief Baptist with a Jesuit Priest

Based off of my research, this Jesuit was a leader within the reservation who was reminiscent of Father Grepilloux's, the head Jesuit from McNickle's novel. Like Father Grepilloux, he seems to have made many visits to the Native quarters that bordered the mission grounds. Again, it's important to note that they clearly did not live harmoniously with one another, there was an apparent segregation that separated the mission from the Native American huts.