Indigenous Peoples of Idaho

Back to Idaho Portal Page►

As identified in the National Atlas of the United States of America, the following reservations are current federally-recognized reservations:

There are four federally-recognized Indian reservations in Idaho -- the Coeur d'Alene Reservation in northern Idaho, the Duck Valley Reservation on the border of Idaho and Nevada, the Fort Hall Reservation in eastern Idaho, and the Nez Perce Reservation in central Idaho.

Tribes and Bands of Idaho
Frederick Webb Hodge, in his Handbook of American Indians North of Mexico, identifies the following as names of tribes and bands, including alternative spellings of some of the major tribes listed above, who were somehow involved with what has become the present state of Idaho --

Cayuse, Colville, Cree, Flathead, Gosiute, Kalispel, Kitunahan, Kootennai, Lemhi, Numa, Paiute, Paloos, Salish or Flathead, Shahaptian, Sheep Eater, Shoshone (Northern and Western), Skitswish, Snakes, Spokan, Tukuarika (Sheep Eater), Uintah, Umatilla, Upper Pend O Reilles, Ute, and Northwestern Band of Shoshoni.

Coeur d'Alene Reservation (created 1873)
The Coeur d'Alene Reservation is now located completely in Idaho, although it originally consisted of 4 million acres across eastern Washington, northern Idaho, and eastern Montana. Some of the towns located within the reservation include DeSmet, Plummer, Tensed, and Worley. The Old Mission Cataldo is also an important part of the history of this reservation. The tribe on the reservation is the Coeur d'Alene Tribe, also known as the Skitswish or Schee chu'umsch Tribe.

Duck Valley Reservation (created 1877)
The Duck Valley Reservation in located on the southern border of Idaho, in Owyhee County, and in northern Nevada. The reservation is 20 miles long and 17 miles wide and has only one major town -- Owyhee, Nevada -- the location of the agency headquarters. Two tribes are represented on the reservation -- the Western Shoshone and the Northern Paiute.

Fort Hall Reservation (created 1869)
The Fort Hall Reservation is located just north of Pocatello, Idaho in the eastern part of the state. The only major town on the reservation is Fort Hall, Idaho, which is also the site of the agency headquarters, a museum, and some tribal businesses. Two tribes are associated with this reservation -- the Shoshone and Bannock Tribes.

Nez Perce Reservation (created 1863)
The Nez Perce Reservation is located in central Idaho, along the Clearwater River. Several small towns are on the reservation, including Ahsahka, Craigmont, Culdesac, Ferdinand, Kamiah, Lapwai, Orofino, Spalding, Stites, and Winchester. When the reservation was originally formed in 1855, it took in parts of Oregon, Washington, and Idaho. The principal tribe on the reservation is the Nez Perce Tribe, also known as the Nimi'ipuu.

Other Reservations
Some of the Indians of Idaho were residents of other reservations of neighboring states. Some of these reservations may historically have included territory within Idaho. They include:


 * The Colville Reservation in Washington
 * The Flathead Reservation in Montana
 * The Jocko Reservation in Montana

Historically, there were two other reservations which no longer exist, but which existed for a time in Idaho:


 * Fort Lemhi Reservation (created 1875)
 * Kootenai Reservation

Agencies
Agencies were created as an administrative division of the federal government to manage Indian affairs with the tribes, to enforce policies, and to assist in maintaining the peace. The names and location of these agencies may have changed, but their purpose remained basically the same. Many of the records of genealogical value were created by these offices.


 * Coeur d'Alene Agency -- the administrative office on the Coeur d'Alene Reservation
 * Fort Hall Agency -- the administrative office on the Fort Hall Reservation
 * Lemhi Agency -- the administrative office of the old Fort Lemhi Agency; no longer exists
 * Nez Perce Agency -- the administrative office on the Nez Perce Reservation
 * Northern Idaho Agency -- the administrative office over the Nez Perce, Coeur d'Alene Indians, and other Northern Idaho Indians, subsequently divided.

Reference


 * Hill,Edward E., The Office of Indian Affairs, 1824-1880 Historical Sketches, Clearwater publishing CO., Inc., 1974.

Schools

 * Fort Lapwai School

Family History Library
For a complete list study the Family History Library Catalog search by Tribe and Locality


 * Northern Idaho Agency Records 1887-1947 -- 7 films -- 1st film Family History Library microfilm #1030809
 * Idaho Superintendency of Indian Affairs 1863-1870 -- 3 films -- National Archives Microcopy #M-832 -- 1st film Family History Library microfilm #1580047

Other Repositories
Idaho State Historical Society, 2205 Old Penitentiary Road, Boise, Idaho 83712, Phone 208-334-2682, Fax 208-334-2774