The Story of the Schitsu’umsh

where we had always been,” says tribal historian Quanah Matheson. “At the same time, there’s a spiritual meaning: Creator gathered up his children and put us on this land.”

It wasn’t until the French Canadian fur traders of the Hudson Bay Company and the North West Company “discovered” the Schitsu’umsh around the end of 18th century that the name Cœur d’Alene, or heart of an awl, was applied to them.

“They called us the pointed hearts because they couldn’t get one over on us,” Matheson laughs. “We were savvy and always won on the business deals. We were known as