To borrow a title from the renown author Robert Heinlein, who we have here is another Stranger in a Strange Land. Like Valentine Michael Smith he is a traveler from a far off place brought from the land of the Iroquois to the furthest reaches of the West to attend a rendezvous in the 1830’s Rocky Mountains.

During the 1830’s it was extremely unusual to have a representative from one of the Eastern tribes be present at a rendezvous set in the area of the plains and inner mountain tribes. How he got there is due primarily to the fur trade. He was attached to the Hudson Bay fur company which was well established in the area where the Iroquois and other eastern tribes were settled. As the Hudson Bay company moved west he traveled with them. Upon reaching the mountains he deserted and joined up with a competitive American trapping party who took part in the rendezvous and so, was able to attend the event. He must have been a curiosity for the other attendees especially for the other tribes who very likely had never seen another Native American from a place over a thousand miles away to the East.

He is dressed in the style of his people at the time, circa 1760 and later, and his finery as he described it, includes a peace metal that was presented to the attendees of the Treaty of Easton by the Quaker parties. The earring and nose pendant are of the Quahog shells or Wampum. The turban, horn strap and bag are woven with the beads in the weave itself. The knife sheath is decorated with dyed porcupine quillwork. There are some trade silver brooches on the shirt and he is carrying an incredible *Presentation Pipe tomahawk forged from an old gun barrel. All in all an imposing figure.

The rendezvous were huge events for the mountain men and Indians of the Rocky mountains where they spent their time trapping furs throughout the year. It was their most important gathering where they could resupply, blow off some steam, and visit with old friends. And sometimes meet strangers from a strange land.

*The Incredible Presentation Pipe was actually made by the reenactor himself, Tortuga la Rouge, by forging it out of an old gun barrel. The skill that this took is amazing and reflects the lengths the participants of these events go to maintain authenticity and honor the traditions and customs of the people they represent.