The American Cyclopædia (1879)/Cœurs D'Alene

CŒURS D'ALÊNE (Awl-hearts), an Indian tribe in Idaho and Washington territories, of the Selish family, although their dialect differs greatly from others of the language. They call themselves Skizoomish, or Skitzuish, but are known generally by the above name, given them by the French voyageurs. They were poor, distrustful, and cruel, and lived on fish, roots, and small game, not visiting the bison grounds. Although estimated in 1822 at 2,000, they numbered but 300 in 1870. In 1841 Father De Smet visited them. In 1842 a Catholic mission was begun, which was removed in 1846 to a place 30 m. from Cœur d'Alêne lake (the source of Spokane river), where they had a church, a mill, and dwellings. The tribe became Christians, but viewed with jealousy the entrance of whites into their country; and in 1858 their chief, Vincent, with 100 warriors, joined Kamiakin, the Yakama chief, in his attack on Col. Steptoe. They were defeated by Col. Wright in the battles of Four Lakes and Spokane plains, and have since been peaceful. A part of the tribe in Idaho had a reservation set apart for them by an executive order of June 14, 1867: and by order of July 2, 1872, those in Paradise valley were removed against their protest to a reservation between the Okinakane and Columbia rivers and British America.