Chief Charlo
Charlo was head chief of the Bitterroot Salish from 1870 to 1910. He was appointed chief upon the death of his father, Chief Victor. CHIEF VICTORS SIGNATURE WAS FORGED during the signing of the Treaty of Hellgate in 1855. Charlo, like Chief Victor before him, followed a policy of peace with the American settlers in Southwestern Montana and the soldiers at nearby Fort Missoula. In November 1891 Charlo and a small remnant of the Bitterroot Salish were forced by a contingent of troops from Fort Missoula to move from the Bitterroot Valley and St. Mary's mission to the Flathead Reservation. Charlo had three children from his marriage to Margaret: Martin, Ann Felix, and Victor. Victor became head chief upon the death of Charlo on January 10, 1910.
A speech printed in 1876 by Montana newspapers expressed the frustration and betrayal felt by Charlo towards the white settlers and the U.S. military and government representatives. In part it read:
The town of Charlo, Montana and Chief Charlo Elementary School, in Missoula, Montana, are named after him.
