Coeur d'Alene Tribe

Information
Guide to Coeur d'Alene Tribe ancestry, family history and genealogy: birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, and other agency records.

Tribe's native name is Schitsu’umsh

Linguistic group: Salishan

The Coeur d'Alene Tribe is primarily associated with the state of Idaho. Ancestral homeland included northern Idaho and eastern Washington.

Tribal Headquarters
Coeur d'Alene Tribe 850 A Street / P. O. Box 408 Plummer, ID 83851 Phone: 208-686-1800 Website

Brief Timeline
1842: Catholic mission established by Pierre Jean de Smet

1858: Chief Vincent attacked settlement; defeated by Col. George Wright at Four Lakes and Spokane Plains

1858: The tribes of Coeur d'Alene, Spokane, Palouse, and Yakima united to defeat U.S. forces near Rosalia, Washington

1859: an expedition under Col. George Wright overwhelmed the combined force of Yakima, Spokane, Coeur d'Alenes, Palouse and Nez Perce. The tribes surrendered and their horses were slaughtered.

1867: Part of the Tribe placed on the Coeur d'Alene Reservation in Idaho

1872: Part of the Tribe removed to Colville Reservation in Washington

Reservations
This tribe is primarily associated with the Coeur d'Alene Reservation in Idaho.

Agency
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

Colville Agency, 1865-1952 (location of original records: Seattle Post, 1885 Census M595 roll number: 43-45,49-56,30)

Records
Agency Records:

Correspondence and Census

Vital Records

 * Coeur d'Alene Agency

Births and deaths,from supplemental census rolls (M595)

Births and Deaths 1920-1938 FHL Film: 574215

Births and Deaths 1918-1935. FHL Film: 1030792 item 2

Websites

 * Constitution and By-Laws of the Coeur d'Alene Tribe Idaho, approved August 8, 1947
 * Official web site of the Coeur d'Alene Tribe
 * Coeur d'Alene Tribe Wikipedia

For Further Reading
For background information to help find American Indian ancestors see For Further Reading.