Flathead Indian Reservation (Montana)

The Flathead Indian Reservation is a federally-recognized reservation, located north of Interstate 90 between Missoula and Kalispell, mostly within the boundaries of Lake County. Small portions of the reservation are also located in Sanders, Missoula, and Flathead Counties.


 * Established -- 16 July 1855
 * Agency (BIA) -- Flathead Indian Agency at Pablo, Montana
 * Principal tribes -- Salish (also called Flathead), Pend d'Oreille, and Kootenai (also called the Confederated Salish and Kootenai).
 * Population -- 2,743 (2000 census).
 * Approx. 4500 living on or near the Reservation in 2009.

History
The Flathead Reservation Historical Society has compiled a time line of historical events, which lists important happenings from pre-contact to the year 2000.

The reservation was originally named the Jocko Reservation, as it was located on the Jocko River. It was created by a Treaty of July 16, 1855 (XII, 975). Some of reservation land has been allotted to individual Indians under acts of Apr. 23, 1904 (XXIII, 302), Feb. 8, 1887 (XXIV, 388), and Feb. 28,1891(XXVI, 791).

Records
Many of the records of individual Indians living on the Flathead Reservation were kept by the Flathead Agency of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, located in Pablo, Montana. Others are kept by the Tribal Office.

Important Websites
Flathead Reservation Historical Society