[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 106 (Wednesday, June 22, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Page S3068]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              REMEMBERING ANTOINE ``TONY'' INCASHOLA, SR.

 Mr. TESTER. Mr. President, I would like to share a few words 
today to honor an outstanding leader, veteran, and friend of mine who 
recently passed away.
  Tony Incashola was the director of the Selis-Qlispe Culture 
Committee, where he spent 47 years preserving and perpetuating Salish 
and Pend d'Oreille culture, language, and history. In his 27 years as 
director of the committee, he earned the respect and trust of those he 
represented, so much so that members of the Selis-Qlispe Elders 
Cultural Advisory Council regarded him as the leader of the Tribe. 
Apart from his work on the Selis-Qlispe Culture Committee, Tony was a 
former Tribal councilman for the Confederated Salish and Kootenai 
Tribes.
  In partnership with his fellow CSKT elder Johnny Arlee, Tony 
initiated the documentation and preservation of Salish language, 
stories, lessons, important place names, and songs, among other 
historical artifacts. Thanks to their work, the Selis-Qlispe Culture 
Committee has produced one of the most comprehensive and extensive 
tribal collections of oral history and culture in the Nation.
  Tony's life's work was dedicated to passing Tribal knowledge onto 
future generations, which he accomplished not only through his record-
keeping, but also through projects like the Nkwusm Salish School in 
Arlee, which teaches the Salish language and culture to kids from pre-K 
through 8th grade.
  Tony's knowledge and leadership also had a profound impact on Tribal 
policy. As a member of the CSKT Tribal Council, he was instrumental in 
the effort to expand the Tribe's natural resource department and 
ultimately acquire ownership over the Salish Kootenai Dam. And as if 
his dedication to the Tribes wasn't enough, Tony was also a Vietnam 
vet, who served his country courageously in the U.S. Army. But to me, 
and to many others, Tony was all these things and more. He was a 
spiritual leader, a historian, a resource, and a friend.
  I got to know him during my time in the Montana State Legislature, 
and he quickly became someone I deeply respected for his character, his 
wisdom, and his deep knowledge of the past.
  But most of all, Tony was just a stand-up guy, a man who dedicated 
his life to others, whether that was his family, his Tribe, or even 
future generations of Tribal members he would never meet.
  I extend my deepest sympathies to Tony's wife Denise; their children 
Daren, Brian, Brandy, and Tony, Jr.; foster children Destry Henderson 
and Marietta Meuli; ``special daughter'' Marlene Lafromboise; eight 
grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and all the other folks who 
considered Tony family--and there were many.
  Though he is no longer with us, Tony's presence will be felt for 
generations. Tony's memory will live on, just like the CSKT history he 
spent his life working to preserve.
  Thank you, Tony, for all you gave to Montana. You will be sorely 
missed.

                          ____________________