Indigenous Peoples of Montana

About four percent of the present population of Montana is American Indian. The major groups include the Blackfoot, Cree, Crow, Northern Cheyenne, Chippewa, Flathead, Kutenai, and Assiniboin.

Tribes and Bands
Arapaho, Arikara, Assiniboin, Atsina, Bannock, Brule, Blackfeet, Cheyenne, Northern Cheyenne, Chippewa, Cree, Crow, (Mountain River Crow), Dakota, Flathead, Cros Ventre, Hidatsa, Hunkpapa, Kalispel, Kainah, Kiowa, Kootenai, Kutena, Mandan, Nez Perce, Okinagan, Pend d' Oreille, Piegan, Salish, Santee, Sematuse, Shoshoni, Siksika, Sioux, Spokan, Teton, Tunache, Yanktonai

Assiniboin-Sioux, Absarokee-Crow, Chippewa-Cree

Indian Reservations
Blackfeet Reservation established 1851 for the Blackfeet Tribe

Crow Reservation established 1851 for the Crow Tribe

Flathead Reservation established 1855 for the Salish, Kootenai, and Pend d' Oreille Tribes

Fort Belknap Reservation established 1888 for the Assiniboin and Gros Ventre Tribes

Fort Peck Reservation established 1888 for the Assiniboin and Sioux Tribes

Jocko Reservation

Northern Cheyenne Reservation (Tongue River) established 1884 for the Northern Cheyenne

Rocky Boy Reservation established 1916 for the Chippewa-Cree

Lame Deer Reservation- Cherokee

Indian Agencies

Fort Belknap Agency

Blackfeet Agency

Crow Agency

Flathead Agency

Northern Cheyenne Agency or Tongue River Agency

Fort Peck Agency

Rocky Boy Agency

Fort Totten Agenc

The Family History Library has microfilm copies of Indian records at the National Archives—Pacific Alaska Region (Seattle). These include excellent collections for the Blackfoot, Crow, Flathead, Northern Cheyenne, and other tribes. The available records include heirship, school, welfare, census, annuity, and family documents. The records are listed in the Locality Search of the Family History Library Catalog under MONTANA - MINORITIES or MONTANA - NATIVE RACES. Records are also listed in the Subject Search of the Family History Library Catalog under the names of the tribes.

Online Resources

http://www.native-languages.org/montana.htm

http://www.accessgenealogy.com/native/montana/index.htm

http://www.kstrom.net/isk/maps/mt/montmap.html

See Also:

Montana-Church for list of missions

Montana-History for a calendar of historical events

Montana-Military for list of forts