flathead.htm

Once the Flathead referred to a whole tribe including the Salish, Kootenai, Kalispell, Coeur d’ Alene, Shushawp, and the Colville people. They all lived in the same area. Later, when food was scarce, the tribe divided which developed certain dialects of the same language. In 1855, the Hellgate Treaty crammed the tribes onto a reservation, they were divided into sub tribes-the Pend d’ Oreilles, Kalispells, Kootenai, and Salish. Soon, the reservation land divided up among Native American families, while the access was sold to white settlers(allotment) shrinking the reservation drastically.

The Flathead reservation is about 1,244, 000 acres (http://tlc.wtp.net/salish.htm); it is only one of the seven reservations that are nestled in “Big Sky Country”, Montana.

Reservation Population: 21,259
Tribal Population: 5,130
Note- The ratio of immigrants to Native Americans onthe Flathead reservation is 3:1.
The tribe only owns over 50% of the reservation (http://tlc.wtp.net/salish.htm)

Major Sources of Income on the Reservation:
Livestock, construction, timber sales, land leasing, seasonal agriculture, tribal and government employment.

Visitor Sites
1. St. Ignatius Mission- A famous attraction, the Mission was built in 1891 by the Native Americans and Missionaries out of clay, brick, and lumber (http://skcweb.skc.edu/ub/tribinfo.htm).
2. Flathead Lake- One of the largest lake west of the Mississippi, it is great for swimming, fishing, and boating
3. Flathead River- A perfect place for white water rafting, fly fishing, and boating.
4. National Bison Range- A habitat where bison, deer, antelope, and elk make their home year round. They are visible from the highway and for further sight seeing, open to visitors to drive around in.

Flathead Reservation Map

This is a map of the Flathead Indian Reservation. It's located in Montana, U.S.A. Arlee is on he reservation and is where the anual powwows are held.