Indigenous Peoples of Idaho

Tribes and Bands of Idaho
Learn about the indigenous people of Idaho, the tribes and bands, agencies, reservations, Indian schools, records and research facilities.

To learn how to get started with American Indian research, find research facilities, and American Indian websites click here.

The following list of Native Americans, who have lived in Idaho, has been compiled from Hodge's Handbook of American Indians..., Swanton's The Indian Tribes of North America. and other sources. Some of the names may be variant spellings or alternative names for the same tribe.


 * Bannock -- primarily located in southeastern Idaho and western Wyoming
 * Coeur d'Alene -- also known as the Skitswish, primarily associated with northern Idaho
 * Flathead -- primarily located in Montana
 * Kalispel -- primarily located in northern Idaho, although they hunted in Montana, Washington, and Canada
 * Kutenai -- primarily located in Montana and northern Idaho
 * Nez Perce -- primarily located in central Idaho, but historically were also associated with southeastern Washington and northeastern Oregon
 * Northwestern Band of Shoshoni -- primarily located in northern Utah, near the Idaho border. Also known as the Washakie Band of Shoshoni.
 * Numa-- another name for the Northern Paiute
 * Paiute -- primarily located in Nevada, California, and Utah, although they ranged into southwestern Idaho at times
 * Paloos or Palouse -- primarily located in Washington, although they did extend up the Palouse River into Idaho
 * Pend d'Oreille -- Name after the Pend Oreille River. It drains throught the Rock Mountains.
 * Salish -- In the early 1840's one of their leaders had a "vision" of the "Blackrobes" who would come with spiritual teaching.
 * Shahaptian -- Indian tribes of Idaho, Oregon, and Washington state
 * Sheepeater -- the name of one of the subdivisions of the Western Shoshoni
 * Shoshone or Shoshoni (Northern and Western) -- the Northern Shoshoni were primarily located in eastern Idaho, western Wyoming, and northeastern Utah . The Western Shoshoni have been historically associated with central and western Idaho, northwestern Utah, central and northeastern Nevada, and a small part of California
 * Skitswish-- another name for the Coeur d'Alene
 * Snake -- another name for the Northern Shoshoni
 * Spokan -- primarily located in Washington, they extended a few miles into northern Idaho
 * Tukuarika (Sheepeater) -- the name of one of the subdivisions of the Western Shoshoni

Agencies of the Bureau of Indian Affairs
Agencies and subagencies were created as administrative offices of the Bureau of Indian Affairs and its predecessors. Their purpose was (and is) 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.

The following list of agencies that have operated or now exist in Idaho has been compiled from Hill's Office of Indian Affairs..., Hill's Guide to Records in the National Archives Relating to American Indians , and others.


 * Coeur d'Alene Agency -- the administrative office on the Coeur d'Alene Reservation
 * Colville Agency
 * Eastern Nevada Agency -- the administrative office on the Duck Valley Reservation
 * Fort Hall Agency -- the administrative office on the Fort Hall Reservation
 * Fort Lapwai Agency -- the administrative office on the Nez Perce Reservation for a time.
 * Lemhi Agency -- the administrative office of the old Fort Lemhi Reservation; merged with Fort Hall
 * Nez Perce Agency -- the administrative office on the Nez Perce Reservation
 * Northern Idaho Agency -- the administrative office over the Nez Perce, Coeur d'Alene, and other Northern Idaho indigenous people, subsequently divided.
 * Plummer Field Office -- serving the Coeur d'Alene Tribe.

Records
The majority of records of individuals were those created by the agencies. Some records may be available to tribal members through the tribal headquarters.They were (and are) the local office of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and were charged with maintaining records of the activities of those under their responsibility. Among these records are:


 * Allotment records
 * Annuity rolls
 * Census records
 * Correspondence
 * Health records
 * Reports
 * School census and records
 * Vital records

Allotment Records
The General Allotment Act was passed by the U.S. Congress in 1887, marking the establishment of the allotment of land to individuals as the official and widespread policy of the federal government toward the Native Americans. Under this policy, land (formerly land held by the tribe or tribal land) was allotted to individuals to be held in trust until they had shown competency to handle their own affairs. The Bureau of Indian Affairs was the trustee.

Individual Native Americans were given a prescribed amount of land on a reservation based upon what land was available and the number of tribal members living on that reservation. Generally, the amount of land allotted was 160 Acres for each head of family, 80 Acres for each single person over eighteen years of age, 80 Acres for each orphan child under eighteen years of age, and 40 Acres for each single person under eighteen years of age. This was dependent upon there being sufficient land available on the existing reservation. If the total acreage on the reservation was insufficient, the amounts of land were pro-rated accordingly.

Not all tribes and reservations were allotted.

Allotted Tribes of Idaho


 * Coeur d’ Alene Reservation, Fort Hall (Shoshone Bannock Tribes) Kootenai Tribe of Idaho, Nez Perce (Lapwai)

Indian Schools
The Office of Indian Affairs (now the Bureau of Indian Affairs) established a network of schools throughout the United States, beginning with Carlisle Indian School, established in 1879. Some of these schools were day schools, usually focusing on Indian children of a single tribe or reservation. Some were boarding schools which served Indian children from a number of tribes and reservations.

In addition, other groups such as various church denominations established schools specifically focusing on American Indian children. (read more...)

The following list of Indian Schools in Idaho has been compiled from Hill's Office of Indian Affairs..., Hill's Guide to Records in the National Archives Relating to American Indians , and others.


 * Fort Lapwai School

Indian Health Facilities

 * Fort Lapwai Sanatorium

Reservations
From the mid-1800s, the official policy of the United States government toward the American Indian was to confine each tribe to a specific parcel of land called a reservation. Agencies were established on or near each reservation. A government representative, usually called an agent (or superintendent) was assigned to each agency. Their duties included maintaining the peace, making payments to the Native Americans based on the stipulations of the treaties with each tribe, and providing a means of communication between the native population and the federal government.

Sometimes, a single agency had jurisdiction over more than one reservation. And sometimes, if the tribal population and land area required it, an agency may have included sub-agencies.

The boundaries of reservations, over time, have changed. Usually, that means the reservations have been reduced in size. Sometimes, especially during the later policy of "termination," the official status of reservations was ended altogether.

The following list of reservations has been compiled from:


 * National Atlas of the United States of America National Atlas of the United States of America -- Federal Lands and Indian Reservations.
 * Isaacs. Katherine M., editor. Omni Gazetteer of the United States of America. U.S. Data Sourcebook, Volume 11 Appendices, Bureau of Indian Affairs List of American Indian Reservations, Appendix E (Indian Reservations. Omnigraphics, Inc., 1991) )

Presently, 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. Others have historically been associated with the state or are not currently recognized by the federal government.

Coeur d'Alene Reservation
The Coeur d'Alene Reservation is located in Northern Idaho and serves the Coeur d'Alene Tribe.

Duck Valley Reservation
The Duck Valley Reservation is located on the southern border of Idaho, in Owyhee County, and in northern Nevada. It serves the Western Shoshone and Northern Paiute Tribes.

Fort Hall Reservation
The Fort Hall Reservation is located just north of Pocatello, Idaho in the eastern part of the state and serves the Shoshone and Bannock Tribes.

Nez Perce Reservation
The Nez Perce Reservation is located in central Idaho, along the Clearwater River and serves the Nez Perce Tribe.

Other Reservations
Some of the indigenous people of Idaho were associated with 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
 * Kootenai Reservation

Superintendencies
A Superintendent of Indian Affairs was an administrator, communicating and overseeing the agents who worked directly with individual tribes. It was the responsibility of the superintendent to see that the agents were following official government policy. (read more...)

Superintendencies with responsibility for agencies in Idaho included:


 * Idaho Superintendency of Indian Affairs 1863-1870 -- 3 films -- National Archives Microcopy #M-832 (1st film);

Area Offices
The Area Offices of the Bureau of Indian Affairs are administrative in nature and do not contain many records of details about individuals. Hence, they are not the most valuable records for tracing American Indian ancestry.

The Area Office with supervisory responsibility over agencies in Idaho is the Portland Area Office.

National Archives
The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) is responsible for the preservation of the records of historical importance created by federal offices in the United States of America, including those of the Bureau of Indian Affairs and its predecessor, the Office of Indian Affairs. (Read more...)

Regional Archives of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA)
Many of the Regional Archives have collected records of the federal offices in their region, including those of the field jurisdictions of the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Some of the field jurisdictions are the superintendencies, agencies, schools, factories and area offices of the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

The Pacific Alaska Regional Archives (NARA) in Seattle has jurisdiction for the preservation of the records of federal offices in Idaho, including those of the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

(Read more...)

FamilySearch Library
The FamilySearch Library in Salt Lake City has a large collection of American Indian sources, including:


 * Copies of many of the microfilmed records of the National Archives.
 * Copies of some records of agencies and other offices, obtained through their own records preservation program.
 * A book collection of histories, biographies, guides, etc. for American Indian research.

To determine the full extent of their holdings, search their catalog, using their Keyword Search, Place Search, and Subject Search, looking for names of tribes and offices. Many of their holdings are under the subject heading of Native Races.

FamilySearch Catalog Idaho Native Races

Historical Societies and Archives
Idaho State Archives 2205 Old Penitentiary Road Boise, Idaho 83712 Phone 208-334-2682 Fax 208-334-2774

For Further Reading
See also American Indian For Further Reading. Native American Online Genealogy Records  Click this button for links to databases, indexes, or sites that help you find an American Indian ancestor by topic or tribe.


 * Idaho - Church for a list of missions
 * Idaho - History
 * IdahoMilitary Records for a list of forts