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The People
The reservation is home to the Blackfeet tribe. Of the approximately 13,000 enrolled tribal members, there are 6,231 living on or near the reservation. Nearly 27 percent of enrolled members are of three-fourths or greater Indian blood.
The Blackfeet Indians are commonly thought to have acquired their name because of the characteristic black color of their moccasins, painted or darkened with ashes.
Economy
There are two manufacturing plants on the reservation. One produces pencils, pens and markers and the other makes gloves. Major uses of the land are ranching and farming. The principal crops are wheat, barley and hay.
Location
The Blackfeet Reservation is in northwest Montana along the east slopes of the Rocky Mountains. Its 1.5 million acres are bordered on the north by Canada and on the west by Glacier National Park.
Points of Interest:
Museum of the Plains Indian
US 89, Browning, MT 406-338-7276
Browning, MT 406-338-5441
406-338-5441Half- and full-day tours beginning at the Museum of the Plains Indian.
For more information:
Blackfeet Nation
P.O. Box 850
Browning, MT 59417
406-338-7406
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The People
About 75 percent of the Crow tribe's approximately 8,000 enrolled members live on or near the reservation. In the Hidatsa language, this tribe was called "Absarokee," which means "children of the large-beaked bird." Other Indian tribes called them the "sharp people" because it was thought they were crafty and alert as the bird for which they were named, probably the raven, later interpreted by white men as "crow."
Economy
For many years the vast coal deposits under the east portion of the reservation remained untapped. One mine is now in operation and providing royalty income and employment to tribal members. The Crow operate only a small portion of their irrigated or dry farm acreage and about 30 percent of their grazing land.
Location
The Crow Reservation is in southcentral Montana bordered by Wyoming on the south with its northwest boundary about 10 miles from Billings.
Points of Interest:
Fort Smith, MT 406-666-2412Spectacular scenery, wildlife viewing, boating, fishing and camping.
Crow Agency, MT 406-638-2621Commemorates the site of the Indian victory over Custer's Seventh Cavalry.
Joliet, MT 406-252-1289The home of Plenty Coups, the last Crow chief.
For more information:
Crow Reservation
Crow Agency, MT 59022
406-638-2601
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The People
The Flathead Indian Reservation is home to the Confederated Salish and Kootenai tribes. The tribes are a combination of the Flathead, the Pend d'Oreille and the Kootenai. Of the 5,936 enrolled tribal members, about 3,156 live on or near the reservation.
Economy
Montana Power Company pays the Confederated Salish and Kootenai tribes $9.4 million annually to lease land on which the Kerr Dam sits near Polson. Potential for development of additional hydroelectric power sites and residential recreation areas promise additional income in the future. The reservation also derives income from logging and Christmas tree sales.
Location
North of I-90 between Missoula and Kalispell, the fertile valleys and towering mountain peaks of northwest Montana are the motifs of the Flathead Reservation. The Reservation comprises over 1.2 million acres.
Points of Interest:
Ravalli, MT 406-745-4572Camp teaches language, crafts, customs and lore of Salish and Pend d'Oreille people. Classes are free. Held summer months.
406-752-5501The largest freshwater lake in the West. Points of interest on the lake include Wild Horse Island State Park (Kwelkani Mi in the Kootenai language) and Finley Point, Elmo and Yellow Bay state campgrounds.
Moiese, MT 406-644-2211
Ronan, MT 406-644-2211One of Montana's designated Wildlife Viewing sites; an exceptional wetland complex prime for birdwatching.
406-745-2768Established in 1854.
406-675-0160
53253 US 93, P.O. Box 278
Pablo, MT 59855
406-675-0160 or 800-883-5344
Fax 406-675-0260This tribal center exists to share the Salish, Kootenai and Pend d'Oreille way of life through educational programs, a living museum, library, archives and gift shop.
For more information:
Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribes
P.O. Box 278, Pablo, MT 59855
406-675-2700 or 800-634-0690
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The People
The Fort Belknap Reservation is home to two tribes, the Assiniboine and the Gros Ventre, with a combined enrollment of about 4,500.
Economy
Employment on the reservation is scarce. The Bureau of Indian Affairs and the tribe are the major employers. The annual income of the tribe, itself, is only $90,000. The reservation is working to develop tourism.
Location
The combined reservation and additional tribal lands encompass 705,067 acres of the plains and grasslands of northcentral Montana.
Points of Interest:
Fort Belknap Agency, MT 406-353-2607
Harlem, MT 406-353-2527Also Fort Belknap Ventures featuring handcrafted Native American arts and crafts. Staff provides tours of the Mission, the Snake Butte, ancient tepee rings and the tribal buffalo pasture.
South of HaysScenic recreational canyon has picnic and camping areas.
Hays, MT 406-353-2527Established in 1887.
For more information:
Fort Belknap Tourism Office
RR 1, Box 66, Fort Belknap Agency
Harlem, MT 59526
406-353-2205
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The People
About 6,800 Assiniboine and Sioux live on the Fort Peck Reservation with another 4,000 or so tribal members living off the reservation.
Economy
A prosperous industrial park in Poplar is one of the largest employers in Montana. A variety of enterprises, including metal fabrication and production sewing are housed here. Other industry, such as an electronics manufacturer, flourishes on the reservation. Farming and ranching, and oil extraction also play a part in the makeup of the reservation economy.
Location
In northeast Montana, its boundaries are 40 miles from North Dakota on the east, 50 miles south of the Canadian border and shaped by the Missouri River at its southern border, the Fort Peck Reservation covers more than two million acres of fertile land.
Points of Interest:
Poplar, MT 406-768-5155
Poplar, MT 406-768-5155
Wolf Point, MT 406-653-1804
For more information:
Fort Peck Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes
P.O. Box 1027
Poplar, MT 59255
406-768-5155
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The People
About 5,600 Northern Cheyenne, some members of other tribes and some non-Native Americans live on the reservation.
Economy
Major employers include the St. Labre Indian School, the federal government, tribal government, power companies and construction companies. In the future the tribe plans to mine the large coal deposit under the reservation.
Location
The rugged country of the Northern Cheyenne Reservation is in southeast Montana. It covers 445,000 acres and is bounded on the east by the Tongue River and on the west by the Crow Reservation.
Points of Interest:
Busby, MT 406-477-6253Built in 1936 in memory of Chief Two Moons, who participated in the Battle of the Little Bighorn.
Lame Deer, MT 406-477-6215
Lame Deer, MT 406-477-6284
Ashland, MT 406-784-2200Established in 1884. Visitors center, museum and gallery.
For more information:
Northern Cheyenne Chamber of Commerce
P.O. Box 991
Lame Deer, MT 59043
406-477-8844
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The People
Rocky Boy's provides a home for about 2,700 members of the Chippewa-Cree tribe. The name "Rocky Boy" comes from the name of a leader of a band of Chippewa Indians. It means "Stone Child," but it was not translated correctly from Chippewa into English, and "Rocky Boy" evolved.
Economy
Rocky Boy's residents who work on the reservation are employed by the schools, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Indian Health Service and tribal government. There is also some wheat farming and post and pole production. The tribe is actively working toward development of its natural resources to be able to provide more jobs and income.
Location
Near the Canadian border, in northcentral Montana, Rocky Boy's Reservation is graced by the Bears Paw Mountains, providing dramatic contrast to the flat bottomlands of this area.
Points of Interest:
Rocky Boy's Agency, MT 406-395-4269
For more information:
The Chippewa Cree Business Committee
Box 544 Rocky Boy Route
Box Elder, MT 59521
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