Kootenai Tribe of Idaho

Alternate names:: Kootenai, Kootenay, Kootenai Indians of Idaho, Kootenae, Kootenaha, Kouttainis, Koutaine, Kitinqu, Kutenai Ancestral Home: northwestern Montana, northern Idaho, northeastern Washington, southeastern British Columbia and Alberta

Population: 1990 U.S. Census 745 living in the United States

History
Encounters with non-Indians and traders began in 1795 and early 1800, when they established trade relations with the North West Company. One employee of the company, David Thompson, a trader and explorer, built a trading post and named it Kootenai House. The Lewis and Clark Expediton reported locating the Kootenai tribe in the Bitterroot Valley (Montana).

In 1855 The "Hell's Gate" treaty was signed with the Blackfeet, Piegan, Blood, Gros Ventres, Flathead, Pend d'Oreille, and Kootenai tribes and the United States.

The Kootenai later moved to the Flathead and Kootenai reservations.

The Kootenai and Salish tribes living on the Flathead Reservation became the Consolidated Salish and Kootenai Tribes in 1935.

Brief Timeline

 * 1795: Duncan M'Gillivray, a trader encounters the Kootenai tribe.
 * Early 1800's: David Thompson, explorer, established trade relations for the North West Company. He built a trading post named Kootenai House in 1807.
 * 1806: Lewis and Clark Expedition encounter the Kootenai tribe in the Bitterroot Valley, Montana
 * 1855: "Hell's Gate" Treaty with the Blackfeet, Piagan, Blood, Gros Ventres, Flathead, Pend d'Oreille and Kootenai tribes.
 * 1855: Treaty with the Flathead
 * move to Flathead reservation
 * move to Kootenai reservation
 * 1935: the Kootenai and Salish living on the Flathead Reservation incorporate and become the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes
 * 1947: approved a constitution

Reservations
The Kootenai Indians are associated with both the Kootenai Reservation in Idaho and the Flathead Reservation in Montana. Some also live in British Columbia.

Tribal Headquarters
The Kootenai Indians reside primarily in Idaho.

Kootenai Tribe of Idaho P.O. Box 1269 Bonners Ferry, ID 83805-1269 Phone: 208.267.3519 Fax: 208.267.2960

Records
Agency Records

Census Records

Corresponence Records

Treaties 


 * 1855: October 17, at Judith River, Territory of Nebraska, with the Blackfeet
 * 1855: July 16, at Hall Gate, in Bitter Root Valley,with the Flathead, Upper Pend d'Oreille

Important Web Sites

 * Constitution and By-Laws of the Kootenai Tribe of Idaho
 * Kootenai Tribe of Idaho Official Website