Fond of Medals

by H. P.

HE giving of medals to Indians dates back to the coming of the first Spanish missionaries. As early as 1631 Cardinal Richelieu had some big medals struck off for the Canadian aborigines. Thirty years later the British were distributing their first medals among the Virginia Indians. Queen Anne’s likeness on a silver medal was presented to the Five Nations, twenty to each Nation. American-made medals were given by the Quakers, also by Sir William Johnson.

The Northwestern Indians received medals in 1778 in return for their allegiance to the British dining the Revolution. The United States gave three sizes of medals at the close of the 1812 War. The United States also gave medals when peace treaties were signed.

Explorers took a generous supply with them. The different fur companies in this country and Canada also gave medals. Among the western Indians, during the height of the Trans-Mississippi fur trade, some bitterness was occasioned among the tribes because men who were not renowned in war, nor elevated to the office of chief, were selected by the well-meaning but ignorant Washington officials and returned to their tribes laden with medals.

In some instances the genuinely big men of a tribe refused to wear medals when receiving them. The Hudson’s Bay Fur Company’s factors not only gave medals, but utilized crude prints, such as were turned off in England for children. Henry, in his travels, found many Crees in the far North who proudly displayed the prints. Amatory braves wore one showing a jolly tar embracing his sweetheart. Warriors wore the picture of a soldier. And so on.

Not only were these prized for being decorative, but were even more important as big medicine.