Flathead Indian Reservation: Difference between revisions
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[[Image:Salish-men-tipis-1903.jpg|300px|thumb|Salish men near tipis (1903, Flathead Reservation, Montana)]] |
[[Image:Salish-men-tipis-1903.jpg|300px|thumb|Salish men near tipis (1903, Flathead Reservation, Montana)]] |
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The '''Flathead Indian Reservation''', located in western [[Montana]] on the [[Flathead River]], is home to the [[Bitterroot Salish (tribe)|Bitterroot Salish]], [[Kootenai (tribe)|Kootenai]], and [[Pend d'Oreilles (tribe)|Pend d'Oreilles]] Tribes - also known as the |
The '''Flathead Indian Reservation''', located (I hate Montana History) in western [[Montana]] on the [[Flathead River]], is home to the [[Bitterroot Salish (tribe)|Bitterroot Salish]], [[Kootenai (tribe)|Kootenai]], and [[Pend d'Oreilles (tribe)|Pend d'Oreilles]] Tribes - also known as the |
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[[Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes of the Flathead Nation]]. The reservation was created through the July 16, 1855, [[Treaty of Hellgate]] and includes parts of four Montana counties: [[Lake County, Montana|Lake]], [[Sanders County, Montana|Sanders]], [[Missoula County, Montana|Missoula]], and [[Flathead County, Montana|Flathead]].{{r|lakeco}} The Flathead Indian Reservation is an area of {{convert|1938|sqmi|km2|sigfig=3}} ({{convert|1317000|acres|ha}}) of forested mountains and valleys just west of the [[Continental Divide]].{{r|ohwy}} |
[[Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes of the Flathead Nation]]. The reservation was created through the July 16, 1855, [[Treaty of Hellgate]] and includes parts of four Montana counties: [[Lake County, Montana|Lake]], [[Sanders County, Montana|Sanders]], [[Missoula County, Montana|Missoula]], and [[Flathead County, Montana|Flathead]].{{r|lakeco}} The Flathead Indian Reservation is an area of {{convert|1938|sqmi|km2|sigfig=3}} ({{convert|1317000|acres|ha}}) of forested mountains and valleys just west of the [[Continental Divide]].{{r|ohwy}} |
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Revision as of 04:29, 9 December 2011
Flathead Indian Reservation | |
|---|---|
 View northeastward across Hungry Horse Reservoir onto the Flathead Range, Montana | |
 Location of Flathead Indian Reservation and territory, Montana | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Montana |
| Counties | Lake, Sanders, Missoula, and Flathead |
| Established | 1855 |
| Government | |
| • Governing Body | Tribal Council |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1,938 sq mi (5,020 km2) |
| Population (2010) | |
| • Total | 28,359 |
| Time zone | UTC-7 (MST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-6 (MDT) |
The Flathead Indian Reservation, located (I hate Montana History) in western Montana on the Flathead River, is home to the Bitterroot Salish, Kootenai, and Pend d'Oreilles Tribes - also known as the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes of the Flathead Nation. The reservation was created through the July 16, 1855, Treaty of Hellgate and includes parts of four Montana counties: Lake, Sanders, Missoula, and Flathead.[1] The Flathead Indian Reservation is an area of 1,938 square miles (5,020 km2) (1,317,000 acres (533,000 ha)) of forested mountains and valleys just west of the Continental Divide.[2]
History
The Bitteroot Salish migrated from the West and share similar language with coastal Salish tribes. The Kootenai are native to the region and lived predomintantly in Idaho, Montana, and Canada. Archaeological evidence shows that native Americans inhabited Montana more than 14,000 years ago, and artifacts indicate that the Kootenai have roots in the area's prehistory.[3] The Kootenai inhabited the mountainous terrain west of the Continental Divide, venturing only seasonally to the east for buffalo hunts. The Kootenai were divided into two main groups. One band lived to the northeast and had a lifestyle based on buffalo hunting. The other band lived in the mountainous west and had a lifestyle focused on rivers and lakes. The Salish occupied territory in Washington, Idaho, and western Montana but ventured as far east as the Big Horn Mountains. As the tribe moved east, it had to change from a lifestyle based on salmon fishing to one more dependent on native plants and buffalo. During the 18th century, these two tribes – the Salish and the Kootenai – shared common hunting and gathering grounds.[2][4]
The 1855 Treaty of Hellgate set aside the reservation solely for the Flatheads. After a long fight against it by the Flatheads, the United States Congress passed the 1904 Flathead Allotment Act opened the reservation to homesteading by whites. United States Senator Joseph M. Dixon of Montana played a key role in getting it passed. Its passage caused much resentment by the Flatheads and it remains "a very sensitive issue".[5] The area was favorably compared to the Yakima River Valley. Thousands of acres on the reservation were reserved for town sites, schools and the National Bison Range. Flatheads were given first choice of either 80 or 160 acres of land. The rest was made open to whites in 1910. A total of 81,363 applications by whites were received for 1,600 parcels of land. The applications were placed in plain brown envelopes, piled onto a pallet, and three young girls drew 6,000 of them, choosing who would have a chance to homestead on the land. The first 3,000 were notified in the spring and the second 3,000 were notified in the fall. However, only 600 tracts were actually taken, leaving 1,000 tracts still open, which were taken in a subsequent "land grab". A dispute over off-reservation hunting between the tribes and the state of Montana resulted in the Swan Valley Massacre of 1908. [5]
Geography and ecology
All but the northern tip of Flathead Lake is part of the reservation. Flathead Lake lies in the northeast corner of the reservation, with most of the reservation to the south and west of the lake.[6] Part of the Mission Mountains range is on the reservation. The western end of the range is protected by the Mission Mountains Tribal Wilderness and the eastern of the range is protected by the Mission Mountains Wilderness. Parts of the Bob Marshall Wilderness are nearby.[7]
Recent years have seen a decline in the numbers of native fish species, which includes: bull trout, westslope cutthroat trout, northern whitefish, and northern pikeminnow. Non-native species includes: yellowstone cutthroat trout, brook trout, rainbow trout, brown trout, lake trout, lake whitefish, black bullhead, kokanee salmon, yellow perch, northern pike, largemouth bass, and smallmouth bass.[8]
Hunting furbearing animals is prohibited. Hunting of these birds is permitted: Hungarian Partridge, pheasants, ducks, geese, mergansers, and coots.[8] Other animals that can be hunted are: elk, white-tailed deer, mule deer, grizzly bear, and moose. Wolf, bison, swans, and falcons are also present.[9]
Demographics
The population of the reservation was 28,359 as of the 2010 census, an 8% increase over the 2000 census, but non-Indians outnumbered Indians by 2-1.[10][11] The largest community on the reservation is the city of Polson, which is also the county seat of Lake County. The seat of government of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes of the Flathead Nation is Pablo.[12]
Economy
The tribes derive most of their income from selling timber, revenue from Kerr Dam, the Kwataqnuk ("where the water leaves the lake") resort and casino in Polson, and S&K Holding—an electronics manufacturing firm. Salish Kootenai College is a community college located in Pablo.[4][6]
Points of interest
- Flathead Indian Museum, St. Ignatius[4][6]
- Flathead Lake State Park[4][6]
- Mission Mountains Tribal Wilderness[6]
- The National Bison Range/Pablo National Wildlife Refuge, Moiese[4][6]
- Ninepipe National Wildlife Refuge and State Wildlife Management Area[4][6]
- St. Ignatius Mission, St. Ignatius[6]
- The People's Center, Pablo[4]
Communities
There are 23 towns on the reservation. Only 8 of them are majority Flathead. Whites own about 1/3 of the land on the reservation. Previously whites owned most of the reservation but the tribe has been steadily buying back the land over many years.[13]
References
- ^ "Local and Social Services" (PDF). Lake County, Montana. Retrieved July 15, 2011.
- ^ a b "Flathead Indian Reservation". Online Highways. Retrieved July 15, 2011.
- ^ "The Montana Dinosaur Trail". Montana Dinosaur Trail. Retrieved July 15, 2011.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Flathead Indian Reservation". Montana Kids. Retrieved July 15, 2011.
- ^ a b "Flathead Reservation Marks Century of White Settlement". The Missoulian. September 26, 2010. Retrieved July 15, 2011.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "S'elish-Ktunaxa-Flathead". Visit Montana. Retrieved July 15, 2011.
- ^ "The Mission Mountains". Big Sky Fishing. Retrieved July 15, 2011.
- ^ a b "Flathead Indian Reservation Fishing, Bird Hunting, and Recreation Regulations". Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks. Retrieved July 15, 2011. includes detailed map of the reservation
- ^ "Conserving Wildlife (and Culture) on the Flathead Indian Reservation". Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks via Montana Outdoors. Retrieved July 15, 2011.
- ^ "Flathead CCD". United States Census Bureau. 2000. Retrieved July 15, 2011.
- ^ "Census shows growth at 4 Montana reservations". Helena Independent Record. March 28, 2011. Retrieved July 15, 2011.
- ^ "Historic Saint Mary's Mission". Saint Mary's Mission. Retrieved July 15, 2011.
- ^ "Flathead Reservation". Anishinabe History. Retrieved July 15, 2011.
External links
47°29′59″N 114°16′46″W / 47.49972°N 114.27944°W
