1971 | Saint Labre Indian Mission

Situated under the big skies and unimpeded sun of Ashland, Montana, the St. Labre Indian Church, Chapel, School, and Museum was built as a place of worship, learning, and empowerment for the Native American and other communities who live nearby. Primarily serving the Northern Cheyenne and Crow Tribes, the structure of the Church is inspired by the tepee of the Plains Indians. Rising up and taking its shape out of the same native stone that makes up the surrounding natural landscape, the church aims to represent the beliefs and traditions of the Native American culture that its visitors value most — while also blending with the Christian message and idea of brotherhood that the St. Labre Indian School was founded upon in 1884.

“In 1966, I was invited to participate in the design of a new church for the St. Labre Indian School, on the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation in Ashland, Montana. My role initially was to be that of interior designer and liturgical artist, but, as the project progressed, I was asked to take over the full design role, including the architectural.” –D.A.S.

“Look at each one in this tipi. We all expect to receive a blessing. Not only ourselves; but also the people, our families, our children, and our relatives that are in here with us.”

LAST BULL'S PRAYER, Northern Cheyenne 1886-1961, "Keeper of the Sacred Arrows"

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The church and interior walls are clad in local Montana dolomite. The Kit Foxes, the oldest Cheyenne warrior society, have a song that says, “Nothing lives long — except the rocks.”

A wooden beam acts as the center support for the church’s ceiling with a cross at its tip that extends to the outside of the church. It seems to rest there at the structure’s highest point where the ‘smoke hole’ would typically be in an Indian medicine lodge.

Both made from slabs of local dolomite, a fountain stands in front of the church and a ‘Living Tree’ stands behind the church. The Living Tree serves to keep the memory alive of those connected to St. Labre who have passed away, with bronze ‘leaves’ bearing their names adorning it.

“There are birds of many colors — red, blue, green, yellow — yet it is all one bird. There are horses of many colors — brown, black, yellow, white — yet it is all one horse. So cattle, so all living things — animals, flowers, trees. So men: in this land where only once Indians were, there are now, men of every color — white, black, yellow, red — yet all one people. That this should come to pass was in the heart of the Great Mystery. It is right that it should so happen. And everywhere there shall be peace.”

THE HIGH CHIEF, Cheyenne, passage from the first reading at the dedication of the church of St. Labre, 1971

The tabernacle displays objects that are held sacred to the community. The eagle, a symbol that represents one who carries the people’s prayers to God and brings back his answers and gifts is shown here with offerings of bread and water. Real eagle feathers hang from the top of the tabernacle stand symbolizing prayer and spiritual power. In the Cheyenne tradition, to receive an eagle feather is the highest spiritual honor.

The sanctuary lamp above the tabernacle takes the form of the morning star — the sun. The Cheyenne people have taken for themselves the name: People of the Morningstar. To them, the sun is a symbol for God.

Stone wall carvings depict the stations of the crossing in the style of ancient Indian petroglyphs.

Christ on the processional cross is carved and dressed as the sundancer and dog soldier — surrounded by eagle feathers — protector of the tribe. Sundancers pledged themselves to pray and suffer for the greater good of others.

Stained glass panels along the center ceiling beam forms the shape of an arrow that points to the opening at the tip of the tipi, also giving way to a cross on the outside of the structure. The tipi, or medicine lodge, is a significant place of prayer for the Plains Indians.

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The colors of the stained glass panels are drawn from the surrounding landscape. Stained glass runs along its spine and three walls — casting fragments of colored light that shift and change in shape on the interior walls depending on the time of day.

Scale Models
Building scale models was an important tool that Don regularly used in the design stage for developing ideas and sharing a vision with the client community.

Don was particularly proud of the St. Labre project and felt that the place and people had inspired some of his more creative work. He would be pleased that St. Labre remains a thriving place of learning, community, and worship to this day.

The cover of the dedication booklet designed by Don Shepherd.

Today!

St. Labre more than fifty years later.

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