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by: Belinda Brooks

An Oral History of the Butte Chiefs

#6  Chief Rodger Collum

By: Belinda Brooks

When asked, “Why after all these years have you decided to go public with your tribe?” Chief Rodger Collum replied, “My ancestors raised me for such a time as this.  It is time to reveal the secrets and tell the story of my people.”

The secrets of the Butte Tribe began at Bayou Bourbeaux over two hundred years ago.  Only a handful of warriors at any given time knew the secret of Butte Hill.  The few that did spent a life time guarding it.

BUTTE TRIBE OF BAYOU BOURBEAUX is rich in oral history.  To bring a better understanding of this oral history and the leadership that has revealed it, the life of the present chief, Rodger Collum, will be discussed first.  In the following weeks, this journalist will reveal the story of the remaining five leaders/chiefs of the Butte Indians.  The details described in the history of this chief was provided in interviews with numerous family members and Chief Rodger Collum, himself, in several sessions throughout late 2019 and early 2020.  In the following weeks, the tale of each of the remaining five chiefs will be opened for all to read.

Chief #6 – Rodger Lee Collum (1953 – Today)

Rodger Lee Collum was born March 3, 1953, in Natchitoches, Louisiana.  Rodger was the first son of Alford Lee “Duck” and Olla Mae Desadier Collum.  Rodger’s mother, Olla Mae, was the daughter of the family leader/chief at that time, Clarence and Louella Waters Desadier. 

Leaders of the family tribe at the time of Rodger’s birth were, Victoria “Fee” Desadier aka “Grandma Fee” and her son, Clarence Desadier.  There were a multitude of descendants to choose from when looking for the next leader of Butte Tribe.  Through oral stories told by cousins today, it is rather easy to understand the reasoning behind the choice of choosing the little towheaded grandson, Rodger Lee, to be the leader and protector of the family at demise of the current leaders.   

Rodger was constantly into things, always asking questions, always moving forward, never retreating, never going backward. He was born to lead.  That was easy for any and all to see.  Whatever was happening, Rodger was into it and leading it.  At an early age, Rodger’s father, told him that there were only two types of people, those who lead and those who follow.  Rodger had no doubt who he was.  He had no desire to follow.  Yet, he knew the importance of doing what he was told and following the instructions of his elders.  When Grandma Fee and/or Louella called out “Rodger Lee!” everything stopped and they had all his attention.

Following his elders is what he did.  At the early age of five, Rodger was called into the meeting of the family elders.  From that day forward, whenever the elders met, Rodger was at their feet while the other children were sent out to play.  For a five-year-old, that was hard for him to understand.  Why he could not go out to play with his cousins.? He was told by the elders that he was special.  Hard for a little boy to understand, but he obeyed.  He was told that it was very important for him to listen carefully, remember the stories that were told, the songs that were song and always remember family came first.  He was told one day he would tell these stories to his family.  At the end of the meeting there would always be a big dish-pan of homemade tea cakes with a  dish towel on top to keep the flies off.  The ladies always made sure that Rodger had his belly full before he left to go play.

At the age of five, Rodger was allowed to hunt by himself.  He remembers goings into the woods by himself, killing a deer and dragging it home with the help of his dogs.  That is only one story of hundreds because Rodger never went hunting without bringing home game.  From the age of five until today, when a cousin needs meat to put on the table, they do their best to get Rodger to hunt with them.

As Rodger grew into his teenage years, he lived his life on the bayou next door to his Grandma Fee, Grandpa Clarence aka “Parrain.” (French for Godfather), and Grandma Louella.  He observed the importance and the burden that was placed on the leader of the family.  Should a family have hardships, they would go to Parrain for help.  Should a couple wish to marry, they would ask permission of Parrain.  It was nothing unusual for anything of importance to a family member to ask permission of Parrain.  Clarence would grow community gardens for all families to gather food.  Clarence had a herd of milk cows that the family and community were allowed to milk to feed their families.  Rodger took note of all of this.  He felt the responsibility of family that would soon be his. 

In the summer of 1969, Clarence Desadier passed away at the age of 70.  Rodger at age 16 was not ready for the responsibility of leadership of the family.  His grandmother, Louella, became Rodger’s mentor and family leader until Rodger came of age.  For the next six years, Rodger was available for his grandmother’s bidding.  Living his entire life next door to his grandparents, life was full of demands regarding family issues.  Family sicknesses, deaths, arguments, and other issues.  When there were deaths in the family, Rodger was in charge of seeing to the burials.  There were specific rituals that were involved in burying family members. Rodger and specific cousins would dig the graves. Family members would sit up all night with the body of their dead loved ones during the wake the night before the funeral at Christian Harmony Baptist Church in Pace Community, Natchitoches Parish. During the funeral, the family would normally Rodger to drive the hearse to the graveyard.  In his lifetime, Rodger counted 69 family members that he had buried.  Rodger told one story about burying a family member that was interesting.  Rodger did not have time to go to the grave yard to show the funeral director where to dig the grave of his uncle so he sent his cousin. The cousin pointed out the wrong plot to the funeral director. The funeral proceeded.  Grandma Louella’s son was buried in the wrong plot.  A few days later, an old woman began calling Grandma Louella complaining that Louella’s son was buried in the old woman’s plot.  One week after the burial, Grandma Louella had Rodger dig his uncle’s body up and bury him beside Rodger’s brother who died years earlier.

On August 11, 1975, the birthdate of Rodger’s first-born son, Shannon, he was called to Grandma Louella’s house.  Grandma Louella told Rodger, “It’s time for you to take over, Rodger Lee.  Go in the back room and look in the cedar chest.  Get the buffalo robe and bring it to me.”  Inside the buffalo robe were old family pictures from early 1800’s, arrowheads, documents, and old photobooks that were crumbling.  The buffalo robe itself was crumbling. 

From that day until today, Rodger has borne the burden of the leader/chief of the family tribe.  Today there are multiple clans attached to the family.  There have been separations through family squabbles, but with Rodger’s leadership the families have stuck together.  When there is trouble, Rodger is the one that the family calls.  When there is death, Rodger is called first.  Often times, he, himself, has met the expense of the funeral.  He has provided food through community gardens.  In natural disasters, local law enforcers call on him to help gather his people together.  In local and parish elections, candidates bid for his support to win elections.  There have been times that the entire bayou community has been shut down and guarded from outside forces by the family tribe.  At times like this, no one was allowed to enter, no one was allowed to leave until the threat to the family was gone.  In the early 1950s, a cousin went hunting and did not return that night.  His two dogs returned without him.  Grandpa Clarence shut the bayou down because he had no idea what may have happened to his grandson.  He thought that someone may have abducted him. A large search party began a 24/7 search for fourteen days while the bayou was shut down.  No one entered.  No one left.   On the fourteenth day the grandson’s body was found.  He had drowned in Bayou Bourbeaux.

Roger has held many tribal meetings over the years in the old schoolhouse to build and retain bonds amongst the family, discuss any issues, raise funds for the tribe, teach tribal history, and repeat the stories that were shared with him so many times as a little boy in the meetings with the elders.  The importance of this to Rodger cannot be understated because the stories need to continue to live on with future generations as requested by the elders.  Just as his forefathers have, he upholds the Butte Tribe religious beliefs, cultures, and enforces respect for the elders within our tribe. He recently taught some of the old songs to interested tribal members who sang them at our family tribal meeting in hopes that they will not be forgotten. When Rodger speaks, the tribe listens. His opinions are well respected and followed. Any issues that arise within the family, he is the one contacted for guidance.

 

by: Belinda Brooks

Members gathered Saturday, December 14^th, at the Pace Community Center in Natchitoches, Louisiana, to hold the 2019 Winter Quarterly Business Meeting. 

The opening ceremony was given in honor of the passing of Council Chief Terry A. Desadier, aka “War Bonnet,”acting Treasurer of Butte Tribe at the time of his death.  The observance began with a blessing by Butte Tribe Spiritual Leader George Holland, husband of Joann Desadier Holland and brother-in-law of the late Terry Desadier. Terry was an active part of the Butter drum team. Attention was then drawn to the stage where the drums were steadily beating the sounds that Terry was so use to playing for his people. In his empty space was place his war bonnet and drum sticks. The singers sang to close the ceremony.

Butte Chief Rodger Collum named Council Chief Brad Desadier of Montgomery, Louisiana, to the position of Butte Tribe Treasurer.    Brad continues his roll as Council Chief. This will be an added duty that he will perform for the tribe. Council Chief Darlene Thompson Hargrove continues to serve the tribe as Butte Tribe Secretary and will work side by side with the treasurer. The financials of the tribe are ran by the chief, treasurer and secretary.

 

Purchasing land on Bayou Bourbeaux is the first step to be taken by the Butte Tribe in constructing the future Butte Native American Cultural Building.  Chief Rodger Collum announced that he is presently looking at four pieces of property in the bayou area.   Cost, size, and location were discussed by members.  Questions were asked, discussed and a vote was taken.  Members agreed that the purchase of land in the bayou area was the right way for the tribe to go and that they would stand behind the chief on the purchase of the right piece of land.

Presentation of membership cards followed business discussion.  A total of 80 members were added to the Butte Tribe’s roll which brings the total roll to an “active” 450 membership roll.   Several members were present to receive their cards personally from their chief. 

The second presentation of the day was a presentation of honor, the “Giving of Feathers.”  Within the Butte Tribe, only those members who have earned their feathers may wear feathers.  To earn feathers, the member must perform a task or tasks that is determined by a chief to be worthy of wearing feathers.  Only a chief may make this decision.  When the decision is made, a ceremony is held in honor of those who have earn their feathers.  Numerous members earned their feathers this quarter. 

A special presentation of feathers was given to Raven Trichell, a 4^th grade Butte Tribe member, who took 1^st place honors at her school systems history fair with a historical display of the Butte Indians.  She will be traveling to regionals at the first of the year. 

Ending the day’s events were two activities.  After potluck lunch, all members were invited to hunt arrowheads at the Brooks Mound off of Hwy 1226 near Chivery Dam in Natchitoches Parish.   The natural setting was the perfect family event for adults and children.  Finding arrowheads created questions in the minds of the children that required answers.  Night time brought the Butte Christmas Dance.  The surrounding community was invited to join in with the Butte Tribe.  Music was provided by the Martin Brother Band.  The members of this band are all family members of the Butte Tribe.  We appreciate the support that they give to their tribe.

by: Belinda Brooks

Members of the Butte Tribe met to pay homage to Council Chief Terry Allen Desadier Sr., Tuesday, December 10^th, 2019, at Christian Harmony Baptist Church in Pace Community, Natchitoches Parish.  Bro. James Lovell and Bro. Jerry Martin officiated. 

Butte Chief Rodger Collum spoke of a lifetime friendship with his cousin, Terry.  As far back as he could remember, Terry and he were in charge of burying their family members, as Collum put it, “…putting them in the ground,” of which the last count was 69.   Chief Collum told of Terry’s pride of being a part of the tribe drum team, of earning his feathers and of just being a part of the Butte family.  Terry was the official administrative Butte Treasurer and will certainly be missed by all who knew and loved him.  Following the Chief’s remembrances, the Butte tribal singers sang a Native American song in their native language in honor of their blood brother’s home-going.

Terry was born on January 3, 1947, to Henry Roy (1918-1985) and Pearl Frederick Desadier (1909-1982) of Natchitoches, Louisiana.   Through both his father and mother, Terry claims Texas Mission, Chitimacha and Caddo Indian bloodline.  He was the grandson of Clarence and Lou Ella Waters Desadier.  Clarence was the previous family/tribe leader.  Terry would often laugh and have stories to tell about his grandparents and happenings in the family life at Bayou Bourbeaux.  Being a descendant of Clarence Desadier put Terry in a direct line of lineage to White Smoke, the first chief of what is known today as the Butte Indians, and his wife, Two Moons.  Other Native American ancestors in his lineage were the captive Chitimacha sisters, Marie Theresa de La Grande Terre, wife of Jacque Guedon; her sister,  Marie Jeanie De La Grande Terre, wife of Francis Derbanne; Texas Mission Indian, Angelique who bore children by Charles Dumont; Ann of the Caddos, wife of Jean Baptist Breville; and others.

Terry served in the United States Army and was very proud of his patriotic service. Terry retired from Haynes International after many years of service in the maintenance department. During his free time, he enjoyed the outdoors, especially hunting and fishing with family and friends. Having an easy-going personality, he instantly made friends with anyone he met. Terry was a proud member of the Butte Tribe of Bayou Bourbeaux and served as treasurer for the chief council for many years. He was a long-time member of Pine Grove Baptist Church in Castor and enjoyed fellowship with his church family. His most prized possession on earth was the relationship with his family. He loved his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren and always put their needs ahead of his own. He will be dearly missed by all that knew and loved him.

He is survived by his children, Tammy Desadier Goodman, David Desadier, and Terry “Tad” Desadier, Jr., and his wife Crystal; a sister, JoAnne Holland and husband George; grandchildren, Austin Desadier, Autumn Rojas, Victoria Desadier, Preston Desadier, Colton Desadier, Tanner Goodman, James Prestage, Jacie Prestage, Maranda Desadier, Marisa Desadier, Bethany Temple, Travis Hargrave and Nick Newton; as well as 11 great-grandchildren.

By Joshua L. Johnson, BTBB Reporter

Marking the location of the Louisiana historical territory of the Butte Tribe of Bayou Bourbeaux (BTBB) ancestors is the purpose for the new sign that has been placed at the intersection of LA Hwy 84 & 1226 at Trichell Community in Natchitoches Parish. For the past 200 plus years, this location has seen Butte descendants pass through its portals. Hundreds of these descendants remain residents of this community today.

The sign designed by Vice-Chief Belinda Brooks features Butte’s tribal totem, the black bear, Kojak; the Butte tribe’s seal; and, the name of the current Butte chief since the early 1970’s, Chief Rodger Collum. A very special thank you goes out to Chief Rodger Collum who coordinated this project in such a timely manner. Assisting him with the erection of the sign was Mike Carter, Keith Hernandez and April Womack. Their volunteer time and efforts to this project are greatly appreciated. This sign represents an important stepping stone for BTBB as well as the Bayou Bourbeaux community whose love for this tribal land is unquestionable.