Kalispel Tribe of Indians

Alternate Names: Pend d'Oreille, Kalispel Indian Community of the Kalispel Reservation, Washington (the official federally-recognized name) Ancestral Homeland: Northwestern Montana and northeastern Washington Tribal Groups: The Upper Kalispel, Lower Kalispel and Chewelah (who live west of the Chewelah Mountains in Upper Colville Valley) are collectively known as Pend d'Oreille Indians.

History
The Kalispel Tribe acquired horses early, from the Spanish or other tribes.

For over twenty years 1760-1780 the Kalispel Indians were in conflict with the Blackfeet, Apsaroke, and Sioux tribes. Their raids for horses against the Nez Perce and Yakima increased the confict. They sought allies with the Spokan Tribe during this time.

The Jesuits established a mission among the tribe in 1841.

In 1855 the tribe ceded land and moved to Jocko Reservation in Montana Territory. Later the tribe was assigned to Kalispel Reservation in Washington.

The population of the Kalispel in 1780 was estimated to be about 1,200; in 1805 about 1600. In 1905 their population was 837. In1990 the population of the tribe was 210, based on the US census at the Flathead and Kalispel Reservation in northwestern Montana

Brief Timeline

 * 1730: acquired horses
 * 1760-1781: conflict with the Blackfeet, Apsaroke and Sioux - allies with the Spokan Tribe
 * raids for horses - Nez Perce and Yakima
 * 1841: Jesuits establish a mission
 * 1855-1856: Yakima War
 * 1855: July 16, Treaty
 * 1858: Coeur d'Alene War
 * 1872: reservation established for the Coeur d'Alene, Kalispel
 * 1880: encroachments of non-Indians
 * 1884: Chief Victor sought compensation of lost land and a separate reservation for the Lower Kalispel
 * 1895: Indian Commissioner ordered Kalispel lands surveyed
 * 1914: Kalispel Reservation was established

Reservations
This tribe is primarily associated with the Kalispel Reservation in Washington.

Additional References to the History of the Tribe
Frederick Webb Hodge, in his Handbook of American Indians North of Mexico, gave a more complete history of the Kalispel tribe, with estimations of the population of the tribe at various time periods.

Tribal Headquarters
Kalispel Tribal Headquarters P.O. Box 39 Usk, WA 99180 Phone: (509) 445-1147 Fax: (509) 445-1705

Records
Agencies:

The following agencies of the Bureau of Indian Affairs were responsible for the Kalispel Tribe:


 * Spokane Agency 
 * Flathead Agency

Census Records

Treaties


 * 1855 October 17, with the Blackfeet
 * 1855 July 16, at Hell Gate, with the Flatheads, Etc.,

Vital Records


 * Flathead Agency, M595, births and deaths and some marriages 1924-1934, FHL Film: 576469 and 1927-1937, FHL Film: 576470 and 1938-1939, FHL Film: 576471

Important Web Sites

 * Corporate Charter of the Kalispel Indian Community of the Kalispel Reservation Washington
 * Official web site of the Kalispel Tribe
 * Pend d'Oreilles Tribe Wikipedia