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Rosebud County - Boarding Schools

Background Info/ Historical Story:

“The Northern Cheyenne Indian reservation was set aside by Executive order in 1884. Its boundary was later enlarged in 1900 and comprises approximately 460,000 acres. Though it has been said it is of poor agricultural quality it is one of the finest range areas in Montana, bordered on the east by Tongue river, on the west by the Crow reservation, with the Rosebud creek running through it from south to north. The Cheyenne people are a proud race, intent on preserving their heritage. For most of them, the land is more precious than anything and the adapting of white man's dollar values is of no incentive. The St. Labre Mission, located across Tongue river from the little inland town of Ashland, was established in 1884 in a three room log building. It had been bought from the Indians by the Catholic Church diocese, and the first to arrive was Father John Eyler of Cleveland who came with three Ursaline nuns. Because of ill health Father Eyler was forced to leave, and the nuns carried on their service in terrible poverty. The Mission, named for St. Joseph Labre, the poorest of God's poor, has been cared for, improved upon, and built up until it is now one of the most inviting sights in the county.”- They Came and Stayed, Rosebud County Book

“The coming of four Ursuline nuns to the log cabins on the Tongue River in the year 1884 was the beginning of the St. Labre Mission and Indian School. St. Labre struggled to survive and to feed and clothe the Indian children who came to them. The church and school are the central part of this Mission.        

 A log cabin became the site for the home, chapel, and school for the Sisters who worked among adults as well as with children in the vicinity. Everyone was invited to come to them for help. The Sisters studied the Cheyenne language while they taught Indians the English language. Medical help was also extended. Trouble following the Ghost Dance, a religious rite of the Indians, caused the Sisters and Priests to be ordered to leave their work at the Mission for a time in 1887. They returned about two years later and the first permanent records of the school show that classes were resumed for forty-three Indian children from the ages of six to thirteen years of age in 1889.

 In 1894 a new church was built here and in 1896 the first Mass was offered there in May of that year. More facilities were slowly provided as funds and help became available and a small dormitory, laundry, a shop and a small library enlarged the scope of the work done by the Mission. Different Orders of Priests and Sisters continued the work during these trying years and in 1926 the Capuchin Order was assigned to the work in this field. After fifty years of faithful work in the Mission the Ursuline Sisters were withdrawn from their responsibility and the Sisters of St. Francis of Milwaukee took over. In recent years the facilities of St. Labre has been enlarged to include a new school and now provides kindergarten as well as elementary and secondary education. The Labre School, as it is now known, is fully accredited by the Montana State Board of Education. In 1971 a beautiful new church building was completed. This structure combines the Indian culture, nature and Catholic traditions in its architecture. The Cheyenne citizens and their friends everywhere are justly proud of this Mission on the banks of the Tongue River in Rosebud County.”- They Came and Stayed, Rosebud County Book

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