Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes of the Flathead Reservation, Montana

Ancestral homeland: Montana, Idaho, Oregon, Washington and Canada

History
For history of the Kootenai before 1935 see: Kootenai Indians

The Salish acquired horses in the 1700's, which made them a target of raiding parties of Blackfeet and other enemies.

The tribe assisted the Lewis and Clark Expedition with food and horses. The expedition was a catalyst for the fur trade which brought goods to make life easier, as well as diseases, alcohol and guns.

In the early 1840's one of their leaders had a "vision" of the "Blackrobes" who would come with spiritual teaching. The tribe was desirious to search out the "Blackrobes" and in 1840-1841 sent a group in search of them. At St. Joseph's Mission on the Potawatomi Reservation in Council Bluffs, Iowa, the group located Father Pierre-Jean DeSmet, who left with them for the Bitterroot Valley, where he established the St. Mary's Mission. Later the Catholics also established schools.

The Salish, along with many of their Indian neighbors, were in attendance at the Hellgate Treaty in 1855. Over twenty-two million acres of land was ceded to the U.S.

In 1872 many were forced from Bitterroot Valley to the Jocko Reservation. The last group was removed in 1891 to the Flathead Reservation.

The year 1935 marks the formation of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes of the Flathead Reservation, Montana.

The population of the tribe in 1930 was estimated to be 9,000. By 1990, its populations was 10,246.

Brief Timeline

 * 1804-6: Lewis and Clark Expedition
 * 1840-1841: a group traveled to St. Joseph's Mission on the Potawatomi Reservation at Council Bluffs, Iowa to meet the "Blackrobes" requesting they come and bring spiritual teaching. Father Pierre-Jean DeSmet left for the Bitterroot Valley, where he established the St. Mary's Mission
 * 1855: Hellgate Treaty: ceded over 22 million acres to the U.S.
 * 1864: Catholics established a boys and girls boarding school on the reservation
 * 1872: The Salish were forced from their homeland in the Bitterroot Valley to the Jocko Reservation (later the Flathead Reservation)
 * 1890: Ursuline nuns began a kindergarten which later grew into a grade school and then a high school.
 * 1891: forced removal of last few tribal members from the Bitterroot Valley to the Flathead Reservation
 * 1935: The Salish and Kootenai tribes of Montana joined to become The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes
 * 1969: The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes of the Flathead Reservation began prohibiting the hunting or killing of mountain sheep.
 * 1973: The Confederated Salish and Kootenai tribes of the Flathead Reservation amended some land ordinances

Reservations
These tribes are primarily associated with the Flathead Reservation in Montana. the Flathead Reservation was once the Jocko Reservation.

Tribal Headquarters
Confederated Salish &amp; Kootenai Tribes of the Flathead Reservation P. O. Box 278 Pablo, MT 59855 Phone: 406.675.2700 Fax: 406.675.2806 Website: www.cskt.org

Enrolled Tribal Members
Approximately 7000 tribal members in 2009.

Tribes That Are Part of the Confederated Salish Kootenai Tribes of the Flathead Reservation
The Flathead Nation is a confederation of the Bitterroot Salish, Kootenai and Pend d'Oreilles Tribes. The Bella Coola, Flathead, Kalispel, Kootenai, and Palouse are considered to be part of the larger Salish Tribe.

Agency Records
The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) Agency primarily responsible for this tribe is the Flathead Agency.

Land Records
Flathead Allotment Records, 1889 -- List of those signing consents for land transfer.

Montana Flathead Land Patents, 1908 -- Abstracts of names beginning A-D

Important Web Sites

 * Constitution and By-laws of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes of the Flathead Reservation
 * Confederated Salish &amp; Kootenai Tribes of the Flathead Reservation of Montana Official Website
 * Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes of the Flathead Nation Wikipedia