Ojibwe in Montana
 | This article possibly contains original research. (April 2012) |
| The examples and perspective in this article may not include all significant viewpoints. (April 2012) |
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A Native American Tribe living in the present State of Montana who are struggling to keep their tribal identity alive by the method of ignoring treaties made in the 19th century.
Origins
Originally, the Chippewa's of Montana lived further eastwards in the Great Lakes region. Their history includes the Seven Fires Prophecy which brought them to the Montana region and beyond, anywhere from 1,000 to 1,500 years ago.
Migration
It is well known that the Chippewa's followed the prophecy and migrated to the west. The second stopping place is thought to have been Niagara Falls but in the Chippewa Language they named the location Great Falls which, in the Chippewa Language, may be Git-chi Ka-bay-cone. The actual second stopping place may have been Great Falls, Montana.
The People of the Falls
According to William W. Warren it was the Dakota people who named the Chippewa's the People of the Falls, or in Dakota Ra-ra-to-oans. It was not the French. Supposedly the name People of the Falls refers to the falls in the Sault Ste. Marie region of Michigan and Ontario. However, the Great Falls of the Missouri could actually be the falls the Dakotas were referring to. In Montana, an Algonquian Tribe has a name which possibly is connected to the name People of the Falls. They are the Gros Ventre Indians. They are historically known as the Fall People.
The Great Falls of the Missouri
Once the first Chippewa settlers reached the Great Falls, Montana region, they could not ignore the 5 waterfalls which make up the Great Falls of the Missouri River, and also Giant Springs which is the largest freshwater spring in the United States. At one time a lake was located a few miles north of Great Falls which is known as Black Horse Lake. The lake has dried up. To the northwest of Black Horse Lake, is Benton Lake which has a tantalizing past. Historians claim the United States wanted to use Benton Lake for irrigation for nearby farms and in the late 19th century commenced to dig canals for that purpose.
The one remaining canal leads directly to where Black Horse Lake was situated which could indicate the canal was actually used to dry up Black Horse Lake. Using google earth, you can clearly see the canal in Benton Lake leading directly to Black Horse Lake and what is left of Black Horse Lake, which is now just an indent on the land. An interesting feature within Black Horse Lake, was a possible island which is turtle shaped. It is one of the many buttes in the Great Falls region. It is around 200 feet higher up than the elevation below where Black Horse Lake's waves filled the air with its pleasant noise.
Non Treaty
What brought about the landless Chippewa's of Montana, was Chippewa leaders who refused to recognize treaties made and treaties broken, with the United States. Learning about the deceit the United States resorted to is a subject most whites do not want their children to learn of.
Defiant Leaders
Among the defiant Chippewa leaders of Montana are chief Ahontoay; chief Big Bear; chief Little Bear; chief Little Shell III, chief Lucky Man; and others. They were non treaty Indians, or refused to take treaty. The United States refused to recognize them and forced them off of Reservation rolls, as well as claimed they held no jurisdiction over them. Unlike the defiant Chippewa leaders, Chippewa leaders like chief Rocky Boy and chief Buffalo Coat were willing to accept treaties. It was chief Rocky Boy who became very well liked by the United States. Chief Buffalo Coat attempted to negotiate a treaty in 1898 but the United States claimed to have no jurisdiction to reach an agreement.
Present Chippewa's of Montana
Chippewa people live on all of Montana's Reservations. However, the deceit the United States resorted to has robbed the Montana Chippewa's of their role in Montana history and of their tribal identy. That includes at Rocky Boy Reservation.
The Chippewa's of the Blackfeet Reservation
In the early 1990s, the population of Browning, Montana was around 15% Chippewa. That is a good indicator of the percentage of the Indian population of the Blackfeet Reservation, the Chippewa's account for now. In the region between St. Mary, Montana and Babb, Montana, a Chippewa Reservation was set aside in 1909. The Indian population between those two Blackfeet Reservation settlements is almost entirely Chippewa. Around 1,500 or more Chippewa's presently live on the Blackfeet Reservation.
The Chippewa's of the Crow-Northern Cheyenne Reservation
It is very difficult to ascertain the Chippewa population of the Crow-Northern Cheyenne Reservation. What makes it difficult is the presence of the Muskegoes who the whites call the Swampy Cree but are according to William W. Warren the northern most Chippewa's. Mushkegowuk means Swampy People in the Chippewa Language. Historical records from around 1900, tell of at least 40 lodges of Muskegoes living on the Crow Indian Reservation. With about 6 being an average number of people living in each lodge, the Chippewa population just on the Crow Reservation, was near 220 in 1900. The population of the Crow Reservation in 1900 was around 2,000. That would put the Chippewa population of the Crow Reservation at over 10%. Some historical records actually claim the Cheyenne Indians to be Chippewa's.
The Chippewa's of the Flathead Reservation
A Chippewa population has always lived on the Flathead Reservation. That includes the Muskegoes. An historical population record of the Muskegoes from around 1896, put their population at around 250 or 40 lodges. That does not include the other Chippewa's. In 1904, a bill to establish a Chippewa Reservation in the Flathead Reservation, was not passed. Around 1900, the Indian population on the Flathead Reservation was just under 2,000. The Chippewa's may make up 20% or more of the Indian population of the Flathead Reservation. However, only around 200 are still clinging to their Chippewa identity now.
The Chippewa's of the Fort Belknap Reservation
As mentioned, the Gros Ventre have a similar name to that of the Chippewa's who are also known as the People of the Falls. The Gros Ventre are, of course, the Fall People. The number of Chippewa people clinging to their tribal identity on the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation is large.
The Chippewa's of the Fort Peck Reservation
This is a Montana Indian Reservation which has a large Chippewa population. Chief Little Shell III lived there late in his life, before being forced off of Reservation rolls. The percentage of the Indian population of the Fort Peck Reservation still clinging to their Chippewa tribal identity, is over 10% but is really much higher as a result of the land allotments handed out some 100 years ago.
The Chippewa's of the Rocky Boy Reservation
It is the only Indian Reservation in Montana that is an offical Chippewa Reservation. However, the United States is claiming that the Cree and Metis make up 90% of the Reservations population. The Cree are really the northern most Chippewa's, or the Mushkegowuk. Early on after Rocky Boy Reservation was established, the Chippewas commenced an exodus to Hill 57 at Great Falls to keep their Chippewa identity alive. It is in Great Falls where the People of the Falls are holding on to their tribal identity the strongest in Montana.