Montana Indian Reservations
Montana has eleven Indian tribes living on
seven reservations. Together they make up about six percent of Montana's
population. Before trappers and settlers came west, Indian people roamed
freely across the state, following the huge buffalo herds that once
covered the plains. Each tribe has unique customs and traditions. While
Montana's Indians have worked to adapt to the changing world around them,
they have kept the rich culture and traditions of their past. This rich
heritage contributes to the distinct flavor of Montana. Their culture is
celebrated through dance, songs, games, language, and religious
ceremonies. Annual tribal events include rodeos and powwows. Beautiful
arts and crafts reflect a special connection between Montana Indians and
nature.
Montana's
Indian Reservations are filled with native American culture. There are
places where Indian customs can be experienced at annual gatherings and
celebrations that are performed on sacred lands just as they have been for
hundreds of years. At a powwow,
guests can join Indians in traditional dress for the "Round
Dance" and taste traditional food. The Crow
Fair and Rodeo, is the largest Indian celebration in the state. Other
events in the state include the Arlee
4th of July Celebration, the Fort Belknap's Milk
River Indian Days,and Rocky
Boy's Annual Powwow.
Each reservation features a wealth of interesting
places to visit, such as the Museum
of the Plains Indians in Browning, the Chief
Plenty Coups State Park Museum in Pryor, the Northern
Cheyenne Tribal Museum in Lame Deer and the Fort
Peck Assiniboine and Sioux Culture Center and Museum in Poplar.
Historical sites are found throughout Montana. At the National
Bison Range on the Flathead Reservation, buffalo roam a 20,000-acre
national wildlife refuge. The Little
Bighorn Battlefield National Monument on the Crow Reservation honors
the site of the Indian victory over Custer's Seventh Calvary. The
Assiniboine Village in Wolf
Point re-creates a traditional village where visitors are invited to
experience the Assiniboine culture.
Tribal powwows, hand games, shinny games, and
rodeos are social events usually open to the public. Some cultural and
religious ceremonies require special invitations to attend or in some
cases are not open to the public. All tribes hold their religions and
traditions in high regard and it is important that guests show respect and
courtesy. It is important to ask before you photograph participants. A
gift of food is a sign of respect. Most natives prefer to be identified by
their tribal name, such as "Crow" or "Gros Ventre",
rather than simply being called Indians.
The history of tribes in Montana is characterized
by years of constant movement. They traversed the plains to follow the
bison and the tribes would battle for control of hunting territory.
Finally, with the bison nearly extinct and tribes wiped out by battles
with Euro-Americans and disease, there came a final move onto
reservations, marking the end of an era.
Are you looking for more information? Be sure to
check out these Montana Kids presentations:
Blackfeet
Indian Reservation (Travel Montana)
Crow
Indian Reservation (Travel Montana)
Flathead
Indian Reservation (Travel Montana)
Fort
Belknap Indian Reservation (Travel Montana)
Fort
Peck Indian Reservation (Travel Montana)
Northern
Cheyenne Reservation (Travel Montana)
Rocky
Boy's Indian Reservation (Travel
Montana)
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