Fort Belknap Indian Reservation (Montana)

The Fort Belknap Indian Reservation is a federally-recognized reservation, located in north-central Montana, between Havre and Glasgow. It is primarily in Blaine County, with a smaller portion in Phillips County.


 * Established -- September 17, 1851 and 17 Oct. 1855
 * Agency (BIA) -- Fort Belknap Indian Agency at Harlem, Montana
 * Principal tribes -- Assiniboine and the Gros Ventre (Atsina), Blackfeet Indians, Flathead Indians, Kalispel Indians, Little Shell Band of Chippewa Indians of Montana, Nez Perce Indians, Pend d'Oreille Indians, and Spokane Indians
 * Population -- 2010 census is 2,704 (when including mixed bloods it's 2,738) - Does not include non Indians 1969: Tribal enrollment 3,557.

History
Fort Belknap Reservation was established by Treaty of Oct. 17, 1855; unratified treaties of July 18, 1866, and July 13, and 15 and Sept. 1, 1868; Executive orders, July 5, 1873, and Aug. 19,1874; an act of Apr. 15, 1874; Executive orders, Apr. 13, 1875, and July 13,1880; agreement made Jan. 21, 1887, approved by Congress May 1, 1888; and an agreement made Oct. 9, 1895, approved by act of June 10, 1896.

The area of the reservation in 1908 was 497,600 acres. In 1900, the Reservation covered 537,600 acres. Later in the 1930s, more land was added on to the Fort Belknap Reservation with the support of Joseph Dussome and other Little Shell Chippewa leaders. Read more about that below. Today, Fort Belknap Reservation covers 648,920 acres or 1,014 sq. mi..

Land records: Tribally-owned 162,932.63 adres. Allotted land: 427,579.93.

Fort Belknap Reservation is within the original Blackfeet Reservation which was created on September 17, 1851 and approved on October 17, 1855. The correct name of the original Blackfeet Reservation, is either Judith basin indian reservation or Judith River Indian Reservation or possibly Flathead Reservation. I'm referring to Square Butte just west of Great Falls. The October 17, 1855 Blackfeet Treaty, was signed near the mouth of the Judith River which is within the Judith basin indian reservation. Little Shell Blackfeet Chippewa leaders continued to govern the original Blackfeet Reservation which was created on September 17, 1851, well into the early 20th century.

Read the October 17, 1855 Blackfeet Treaty text. It is the home of the Assiniboine, Blackfeet, Flathead (included as being Flathead are the Kalispel, Pend d'Oreille, and Spokane), the Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians, and the Nez Perce who are really the Amikwa Chippewa's.

1896: Chippewa's Relocated To Fort Belknap Reservation
During June and July of 1896, the United States forcefully relocated several thousand Chippewa's from the Little Shell Chippewa's Blackfeet Reservation (aka Turtle Mountain Reservation), to Fort Belknap Reservation and many other Reservations. In May of 1895, chiefs Little Shell III and Red Thunder were arrested and that ended their efforts to preserve the Little Shell Chippewa's Reservation. Also during 1895, the United States reached an agreement with leaders of Fort Belknap Reservation to purchase the southern part of the Reservation. They claim for mineral entry but it was for the eventual Deportations in 1896. It covered the southern part of Fort Belknap Reservation. An unknown number of Chippewa's were deported to Fort Belknap Reservation during June and July of 1896.

Little Shell Chippewa Tribe
In 1921, a meeting was held at Joseph Paul's family's ranch near Lewistown, Montana. It was probably about filing a land claims lawsuit about the original Blackfeet Reservation which was created on September 17, 1851. However, the Little Shell Blackfeet Chippewa's continued to govern the original Blackfeet Reservation which was created on September 17, 1851.

On June 10, 1939, another meeting was held at Joseph Paul's home in Great Falls, Montana. Even during 1939, they were assigning district representatives for the original Blackfeet Reservation which was created on September 17, 1851.

After World War II, many of the Little Shell Blackfeet Chippewa leaders became despondent and commenced to act on their own. In 1950, Joseph Dussome gave up and hired a lawyer and then filed a land claims lawsuit about the 3rd Blackfeet Reservation created on April 15, 1874. On April 5, 1974, the United States again refused to honor the treaty which created the Little Shell Blackfeet Chippewa's 3rd Blackfeet Reservation which the Fort Belknap Reservation is within.

To learn more about the Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians of Montana and how they governed their original Blackfeet Reservation, click thislink www.indianaffairs.gov/cs/groups/xofa/documents/text/idc-001419.pdf. On page 119 (not on the adobe acrobat reader but on the pdf book pages) is the information about the June 10, 1939 meeting at Joseph Paul's home in Great Falls, Montana. On page 92, under "The Creation of Organizations in Montana, 1920-1936," is information about the first so called Little Shell Tribe organization in Montana. Howard Paul (Joseph Paul's son) preserved the information. The meeting was held at Joseph Paul's family's ranch near Lewistown, Montana, in 1921.

They almost completely ignored Joseph Paul and focused primarily on Joseph Dussome. If you read the pdf book, you will have no choice but to agree that Joseph Paul was far more important. And they focused too much of their attention on the Metis or mixed bloods. And they did not mention anything about the original Blackfeet Reservation which the Little Shell Tribe continued to govern until at least 1939. Click memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/S this link, to read the September 17, 1851 Fort Laramie Treaty which created and defined the Blackfeet Territory which is the original Blackfeet Reservation.

1909: Land Added To Fort Belknap Reservation
In 1908, Indian Agent Frank Churchill was sent to Montana to find chief Rocky Boy to negotiate about the Land Acts. Churchill found chief Rocky Boy at a Chippewa vllage near Garrison, Montana and St. Peters Mission which was very near Ulm, Montana which is 8 miles southwest of Great Falls. Both negotiated about the upcoming land acts and how to avoid violence. Fort Belknap Reservation was the most dangerous location. Next was Fort Peck Reservation. White settlers new Fort Peck Reservation contained an abundance of excellent agriculture land and wanted it. They complained bitterly about eradicating Fort Peck Reservation.

In response to the unrest, Churchill requested that all of Valley County, Montana (it was really all of Fort Peck Reservation) be withdrawn from white settlement and a new 2,592 sq. mi. Chippewa Reservation be created for the Chippewa's of Fort Peck Reservation. William R. Logan, who was the Superintendent of Fort Belknap Reservation, was put in charge of finding land for the new Chippewa Reservation. He found the land south and west of Fort Belknap Reservation. It was added on to Fort Belknap Reservation which increased the size of Fort Belknap Reservation to around 3,500 sq. mi. It is actually connected to Rocky Boys Reservation.

1934: IRA &amp; Probable Land Loss
On June 18, 1934, the Indian Reorganization Act was passed. It was deceitful. It had good intentions while also having illicit intentions. Relocating Reservation Indians to white communities was one of the IRA goals. It was reported that the Office of Indian Affairs was considering plans to add land to Rocky Boys Reservation. The office of Indian Affairs was also considering adding land to Fort Belknap Reservation in 1934 and purchasing a tract of land near Great Falls for the Chippewa's who lived in at least 5 Chippewa villages around Great Falls.

What they probably did in 1934, was reduce the size of Fort Belknap Reservation, Rocky Boys Reservation, and the Chippewa Reservation adjacent to Great Falls on the west. They did leave considerable land. Around 80,000 acres for Rocky Boys Reservation and either 34,000 acres or 74,000 acres for Fort Belknap Reservation. You must remember that the United States added land to Fort Belknap Reservation in 1909. You must also remember that before Rocky Boys Reservation was created in 1916, Fort Assiniboine Indian Reservation was already located where Rocky Boys Reservation is. Fort Assiniboine Indian Reservation originally covered around 1,000 sq. mi. Before 1893, it was reduced to probably 500,000 acres.

So both Fort Belknap Reservation and Rocky Boys Reservation, were probably reduced in size in 1934. Fort Belknap Reservation lost the most land. Nearly 2,500 sq. mi. Rocky Boys Reservation was reduced from around 500,000 acres to around 156,000 acres.

And another fact about 1934, is the land addition to Navajo Reservation. On the Navajo Reservation land addition map, the land added on in 1934, is located in the extreme southern part of Navajo Reservation. If the land added on to Navajo Reservation in 1934, was for the Chippewa's from the Great Falls region, Fort Belknap Reservation, and Rocky Boys Reservation, we don't know how many were relocated to their new Reservations added on to Navajo Reservation in 1934.

Communities
Fort Belknap Agency :

2010 population is 1,293. Indians make up 96.6% of the population of Fort Belknap Agency. There are three distinct communities which make up Fort Belknap Agency.

Middle Fort Belknap Agency :

About a half a mile south of the main community of Fort Belknap Agency, is a cluster of housing units. It's population is a part of Fort Belknap Agency.

South Fort Belknap Agency :

About a half a mile south of Central Fort Belknap Agency, is another cluster of housing units. It's population is also a part of Fort Belknap Agency. It covers 45.76 sq. mi. Fort Belknap Agency covers a large area.

Hays:

2010 population is 843. Indians make up 93.2% of the population of Hays. Like Fort Belknap Agency, Hays is made up of at least five distinct communities.

South Hays :

About 0.9 miles to the southeast of the main area of Hays, is a cluster of housing units. It's population is a part of Hays. It is also located near the western slopes of the Little Rocky Mountains.

North Hays :

About 0.8 miles to the northeast of the main area of Hays, is another cluster of housing units. It's population is a part of Hays. It is also situated very near the Little Rocky Mountains.

Old Hays :

About 3.9 miles north of the main area of Hays, is another cluster of housing units. It's population is a part of Hays. It is not as close to the Little Rocky Mountains as the other communities. I named the small settlement after a street in the settlement.

Star Hill :

It is located in a narrow mountain valley over a half a mile southeast of South Hays. It's population is included with that of Hays. It is the only community located around Hays, that is in the mountains.

Hays covers 27.05 sq. mi. It covers a large area.The Little Shell Blackfeet Chippewa's had a minor district at Hays. In 1939, the Hays district representative was probably Joseph Azure.

Lodge Pole : 2010 population is 265. Indians make up 97% of the population. Like both Fort Belknap Agency and Hays, Lodge Pole is made up of three distinct communities.

South Lodge Pole :

About 0.4 miles southeast of the main area of Lodge Pole, is a cluster of housing units. It's population is a part of Lodge Pole. It is located near the northeastern slopes of the Little Rocky Mountains.

North Lodge Pole : About 0.8 miles north of the main area of Lodge Pole, is a new cluster of housing units or a new settlement. It is also located near the northeastern slopes of the Little Rocky Mountains. It's population is a part of Lodge Pole.

There are at least 11 distinct communities on the Fort Belknap Reservation. However, Reservation leaders follow County and State laws. Reservation leaders should have full authority over the 11 communities. They should issue each distinct community it's own community name and define each communities borders or village limits. They should also give each community the power of jurisdiction, or allow the citizens of each community to elect their community leaders.

In addition to the communities located on Fort Belknap Reservation, two others almost adjacent to the northern border of the Reservation are predominantly Indian. They are Dodson and Harlem.

Population Growth History
In 1901, the population of Fort Belknap Reservation was 1,290. In 1930, or about 4 years before the Indian Reorganization Act was voted on and accepted at Fort Belknap Reservation, the Indian population of Fort Belknap Reservation was 1,367. It increased by only 77 during that 30 year period. That is only a 6% population gain in 30 years which means something went wrong. There may have been an unknown forced relocation of the more hostile Indians at Fort Belknap Reservation, to other Reservations. In 1908, a new Chippewa Reservation which covered over 2,000 sq. mi., was set aside in Valley County, Montana which is a few miles east of Fort Belknap Reservation. However, opposition from white settlers eradicated the Valley County, Montana Chippewa Reservation within a year. It may have had links to Fort Belknap Reservation.

In 2010, the Indian population of Fort Belknap Reservation was 2,738. It decreased from 2,813 in the 2000 census, by 75. Many of the Indian citizens of Fort Belknap Reservation have moved to Harlem, Montana which is about 2 miles north of the Fort Belknap Reservation. Harlem, Montana is now a predominantly Indian city. Harlem, Montana has a population of 808 according to the 2010 census. Indians make up 52.35% of the population of Harlem. When including mixed bloods, the Indian population of Harlem, Montana is 58%.

And Dodson, Montana, which is a couple of miles northeast of Fort Belknap Reservation, is another predominantly Indian city. Dodson has a population of 124 according to the 2010 census. Indians make up 49.19% of the population of Dodson. When including mixed bloods, it's 55.64%. Zortman, Montana, which nearly borders Fort Belknap Reservation on the south, also has a significant Indian population. Of Zortman's 2010 population of 69, Indians make up 18.84% of the small communities population but 26.09% when including mixed bloods.

Records
Many of the records of individual Indians living on the Fort Belknap Reservation were kept by the Fort Belknap Agency of the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Others are kept by the Tribal Office.