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 -- Flathead Indians (the Flathead are the Flathead, Kalispel Indians, Pend_d'Oreille_Indians and Spokane Indians - all spoke the same language which is an admixture of Chippewa Algonquin and non Algonquin - and Kootenai who are a mixture of Chippewa Algonquin and non Algonquin - and the Nez Perce Indians who are the Amikwa Chippewas who originally lived between Lakes Superior, Huron, and Nipissing in Ontario. Amikwa Chippewas are also known as the Nez Perce. And the Chippewa Indians who are known in Montana as the Little Shell Tribe, Nez Perce, and Swan Creek and Black River Chippewas. They are properly called the Confederated Salish and Kootenai).
 * Population -- 2010 census is 7,042 but when including mixed bloods it's 9,328 - Does not include non Indians.
 * Approx. 7,042 live on the Flathead Reservation in 2010. 1969: Tribal enrollment 5,296.

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). Historical evidence indicates the Flathead Reservation may have extended into the Bitterroot Valley. It is clearly stated in the July 16, 1855 Hell Gate Treaty, that the Bitterroot Valley was wanted to be included as a Reservation. In fact, Indians were still living in the Bitterroot Valley until October 1891. United States soldiers forced them to relocate to the Flathead Reservation in that year.

They may have been the subjects of chief Aeneas or Ignace Paul. It is widely accepted that chief Charlo was the principle leader of the Bitterroot Valley Indians. However, chief Paul's father settled down to live in the Bitterroot Valley about 1816, after moving from Michigan. Chief Charlo had to be forced to gather his people together for the trek to the Flathead Reservation. He had great resentment against the whites.

In the early 1880s, the United States wanted to negotiate a treaty in which a railroad would be built across the Reservation. Chief Arlee jumped at the chance to receive the $1 million. Chief Paul had other worries to tend to because many of his subjects were living north and east of the Flathead Reservation. Supposedly a negotiator for the railroad and government of the United States, promised to negotiate on behalf of the Flathead Reservation about having the Reservation enlarged on the north. It may have been a deal in which the northern part of the Reservation was really eradicated.

Frank Linderman wrote in one of his books that the region north of the Flathead Reservation was still occupied by chief Paul's subjects in the 1880s. Linderman described the region as a dangerous one in which every now and then Indians killed some whites. The Indians were Chippewas who white historians have named the Kootenai. The canoes of the Kootenai look identical to the canoes of the Chippewas. Western Montana has some lakes but not as many as found in the Great Lakes region where some of today's Kootenai claim they originally lived. That is Michigan.

1892, September 2, the Flathead, Kootenay and the Upper Pend d'Oreille Indians of the Flathead reservation in Montana Territory sold a portion of their reservation for the use of the Northern Pacific Railroad. (Senate Ex. Doc. #15, 48th Congress, 1st session).

Rocky Boys Reservations
In early March of 1902, chief Rocky Boy hired an Anaconda lawyer then sent a letter to President Roosevely requesting for Reservation. That information was printed in the March 8, 1902 Butte Inter Mountain. In the May 14, 1902 Butte Inter Mountain, it was reported that chief Rocky Boys request for Reservation was denied. However, it was also reported in that same May 14, 1902 article, that chief Rocky Boy intended to ask for the privilege of allowing members of his band who wish to do so to settle upon surveyed or unsurveyed land.

Then in the June 5, 1902 Butte Inter Mountain, it was reported that the Chippewas had received word that each of their number was entitled to 160 acres of land somewhere in this vast country. Flathead REservation of course.

Chippewa land surveyors were supposedly sent out to look for land. In the June 5, 1902 article, they claimed the Chippewa land surveyors were sent to northern Idaho, Tobacco Plains (it's near Eureka, Montana), and the St. Mary River in the Blackfeet Reservation. However, Flathead Reservation is the location.

Thomas Downs Recommendation
On October 3, 1903, Indian Agent Thomas Downs reported that it was difficult to ascertain the identity and character of the the Indians because of their migratory habits. He recommended that arrangements be made with Flathead Reservation, to allow the Chippewas led by chief Rocky Boy who numbered over 400 (many reports claim a little over 100 but even 400 is too low) to settle on the Flathead Reservation.

Senator Gibson was advised of Downs report and introduced a bill (S. 2705, Fifty-eight Congress, first session). On January 8, 1904, the department reporting on the bill promoted the bill should be enacted. THey claim the bill failed but that is incorrect. Later in 1904, the McCumber Agreement (aka 10¢ An Acre Treaty) was to be voted on. They needed chief Rocky Boys support

In the August 5, 1904 Billings Gazette, it was reported that chief Rocky Boy traveled to Missoula to meet with congressman Dixon. Chief Rocky Boy knew congressman Dixon had the power to grant chief Rocky Boy Chippewa Reservations within Flathead Reservation. It was reported that congressman Dixon told chief Rocky Boy he did not have the power to help the Chippewas which is incorrect. You must remember that the Flathead Reservation Land Allotment Act was passed by the United States in 1904. It is no coincidence that chief Rocky Boy was negotiating to have new Chippewa Reservations set aside within Flathead Reservation at that time.

They were preparing for the eventual settlement of Flathead Reservation by white settlers and to prevent violence when the allotment was process was conducted. That happened in 1908 which is when the first round of allotments happened and also the same year as the Swan Valley Massacre.

Where is Rocky Boys Reservations Located?
We know at least 400 Chippewas were to be granted 160 acres of land. That's close to 65,000 acres. We just don't know where these small Chippewa Reservations within Flathead Reservation, are located at. The State of Montana was granted over 69,000 acres for school purposes. That is where the Chippewa Reservations within Flathead Reservation are located. At least most of them. Remember chief Rocky Boy requested to allow Chippewas who wish to do so to settle on surveyed or unsurveyed land.

Wild Horse Island is on location. However, the United States later recanted. Today, the island is known as Flathead Lake - Wild Horse Island State Park. Big Arm and Elmo are located very near Wild Horse Island. Another is Ninepipe National Wildlife Refuge and the region to the east and northeast. Clarice Paul Homesite, Kicking Horse, Pache Homesite, and Woodcock Homesite are located in that area. Another smaller area is located where Turtle Lake is. And the National Bison Range is another location. Old Agency is located on it's west side, while St. Ignatius is located on it's east side.

Another possible location is located very near Mission Reservoir Mission Homesite is located there. And another region is Pablo National Wildlife Refuge. Pablo, which is the capiltal of Flathead Reservation, is adjacent to Pablo National Wildlife Refuge on the extreme southeast.

Then there is the 43,835 acres which are held as individual Indian Trust land. These small areas a scattered across the Flathead Reservation. Excluding the National Bison Range and the Flathead Lake - Wild Horse Island State Park, the NInepipe National Wildlife Refuge and the region to the east and northeast, is the largest Chippewa Reservation within Flatheadn Reservation.

Flathead Reservation has at least 24 communities. Most are predomonantly white. However, throughout the Reservation are numerous other areas which have clusters of housing units which are not categorized as a cdp, city, town, or village. All are probably predominantly Indian. The total number of these clusters of housing units is near 15. The Flathead Reservation has around 22 or 23 communities which are predominantly Indian.

Among their historical leaders are chief Victor, his son chief Charlo, chief Ignace Paul, chief Arlee and several others. Interestingly, a chief named Moses signed both the July 16, 1855 Hell Gate and the October 17, 1855 Blackfeet Stevens Treaties. He may be the same chief Moses of Washington State who refused to sign the Stevens Treaty involving his land around the Yakima Reservation region in Washington State.

For more information about the Chippewas (aka the Anishinabe) who live in the Montana, Idaho, Washington, Oregon, California, Alberta, and British Columbia region, click this www.wilkesweb.us/algonquin/nations.htm link. It will help you learn more about the Flathead Reservation.

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.

In 1905, the Commissioner of Indian Affairs assigned Special Agent Thomas Downs to investigate the enrollment of the Indians of the Flathead Reservation. The National Archives has microfilmed the resulting documents as their Microcopy M1350, consisting of 3 rolls of microfilm. These records are available at the National Archives and their Regional Archives, and at other research institutions, including the in Salt Lake City. The records include census rolls for 1903, 1905, and 1908, as well as applications for enrollment and Agent Downs' field notes. It includes members of all tribes then living on the Flathead Reservation, including the Flathead, Kootenai, Pend d'Oreille, Kalispel, and Spokane tribes.

Land records: Tribally-owned land: 558,216.44 Allotted land: 56,869.08.

Important Websites
Flathead Reservation Historical Society