Names of the Montana Indian Tribes
Montana is a state of the northwest United States bordering on Canada. There are many famous Native American tribes who played a part in the history of the state and whose tribal territories and homelands are located in the present day state of Montana. The names of the Montana tribes included the Arapaho, Arikara, Assiniboine, Atsina, Cheyenne, Chippewa, Cree, Crow, Dakota, Hidatsa, Kalispel, Kiowa (see above picture), Kutenai, Mandan, Nez Perce, Piegan, Salish (Flathead), Tunahe and the Spokane.
Fast Facts about the History of Montana Indians
The way of life and history of Montana Indians was dictated by the natural raw materials available in the State of Montana. The natural resources and materials available provided the food, clothing and houses of the Montana Indians. Fast facts about the history, culture and life of the State of Montana Indians. Discover facts and information about the history of the State of Montana Indians.
- Name of State: Montana
- Meaning of State name: Derivation of the Latin word "montaanus" which means mountainous
- Geography, Environment and Characteristics of the State of Montana: Rocky Mountains and great plains.
- Culture adopted by Montana Indians: Woodland culture but some tribes also adopted the Great Plains culture. In Western Montana some Indians adopted the Plateau Culture
- Languages: Athabaskan, Algonquian, Siouan, Caddoan and Uto-Aztecan
- Way of Life (Lifestyle): Hunters and Fishers
- Types of housing, homes or shelters: Pit houses, tepees, tule-mat lodges
History Timeline of the Montana Indians
The history and the way of life of Montana Indians was profoundly affected by newcomers to the area. The indigenous people had occupied the land thousands of years before the first European explorers arrived. The Europeans brought with them new ideas, customs, religions, weapons, transport (the horse and the wheel), livestock (cattle and sheep) and disease which profoundly affected the history of the Native Indians. For a comprehensive History timeline regarding the early settlers and colonists refer to the Colonial America Time Period. The history of the State and of its Native American Indians is detailed in a simple History Timeline. This Montana Indian History Timeline provides a list detailing dates of conflicts, wars and battles involving Montana Indians and their history. We have also detailed major events in US history which impacted the history of the Montana Indians. The mountains in the west were the homelands of the Bannack, Flathead, Kalispell, Kutenai, and Shoshone tribes. The Arapaho, Assiniboine, Atsina, Blackfoot, Cheyenne, and Crow tribes lived on the plains. The later tribes who inhabited Montana were the Sioux, Mandan, and Nez Perce. During the 1800's wars, battles and conflicts erupt between white settlers and American Native Indians including the Arapaho, Arikara, Assiniboin, Atsina, Bannock, Cheyenne, Chippewa, Cree, Crow, Dakota, Hidatsa, Kalispel, Kiowa, Kutenai, Mandan, Nez Perce, Piegan, Salish, Tunahe and the Spokan tribes. The Indians are gradually forced to cede their lands
Montana History Timeline
History Timeline of the Native Indians of Montana
10,000 BC: Paleo-Indian Era (Stone Age culture) the earliest human inhabitants of America who lived in caves and were Nomadic hunters of large game including the Great Mammoth and giant bison.
7000 BC: Archaic Period in which people built basic shelters and made stone weapons and stone tools
1000 AD: Woodland Period including the Hopewell cultures established along rivers in the Northeastern and Midwestern United States which included trade exchange systems and burial systems
1000: Mississippian Culture established. This was the last of the mound-building cultures of North America in Midwestern, Eastern, and Southeastern United States
1775: 1775 - 1783 - The American Revolution.
1776: July 4, 1776 - United States Declaration of Independence
1803: The United States bought the Louisiana Territory from France for 15 million dollars for the land
1805: Choctaw and northern (Chickasaw and Cherokee) Indian cessions open up land to white settlement during 1805 - 1806
1805: Lewis and Clark explore Montana 1805-1806:
1812: 1812 - 1815: The War of 1812 between U.S. and Great Britain, ended in a stalemate but confirmed America's Independence
1830: Indian Removal Act
1832: Department of Indian Affairs established
1835: Creek Alabama Uprising (1835–1837) in Alabama and Georgia along the Chattahoochee River which resulted in a defeat for the Creek forces and the removal of the Creek people from their native lands to the Indian Territory in present-day Oklahoma see the Trail of Tears.
1861: 1861 - 1865: The American Civil War.
1862: U.S. Congress passes Homestead Act opening the Great Plains to settlers
1865: The surrender of Robert E. Lee on April 9 1865 signalled the end of the Confederacy
1867: Hayfield Fight (1867) 31 US soldiers and civilians fought against more than 700 Sioux and Cheyenne warriors
1876: Great Sioux War (1876–1877). Battle of the Rosebud in Montana. Lakota Sioux and Cheyenne under Crazy Horse turned back soldiers commanded by General George Crook cutting off reinforcements intended to aid Custer at the Battle of Little Bighorn
1876: 1876 - Battle of Little Bighorn, Montana. Sioux and Cheyenne defeated General Custer and the Seventh Cavalry.
1877: Nez Perce War in Oregon, Montana and Idaho. After fighting against the Americans Chief Joseph led his tribe 1700 miles to Canada but were forced to to surrender near the border
1887: Dawes General Allotment Act passed by Congress leads to the break up of the large Indian Reservations and the sale of Indian lands to white settlers
1889: Montana was admitted to the Union
1969: All Indians declared citizens of U.S.
1979: American Indian Religious Freedom Act was passed
History Timeline of the Native Indians of Montana
State of Montana History Timeline
History of Montana Indians - Destruction and Decline
The history of the European invasion brought epidemic diseases such as tuberculosis, cholera, influenza, measles and smallpox. The Native Indians of Montana had not developed immunities against these diseases resulting in huge losses in population. Exploitation including the leverage of taxes, enforced labor and enslavement were part of their history, taking their toll on the Montana Indians.
Montana
- History of Montana Indians
- Interesting Facts and information about the Montana Culture and History
- Names of indigenous Montana tribes of Indians
- Fast Facts, History Timeline and info
- Map of Montana
- History Timeline of the Montana Indians
State of Montana Indians - Additional Pictures and Videos
State of Montana Indian History. Discover the vast selection of pictures and videos of Native Americans. The pictures show the clothing, weapons and decorations of various Native American tribes that can be used as an educational history resource for kids and children. We hope that this article on the History of Montana Indians will assist in your studies or homework and that you will enjoy watching the videos featuring many pictures of the Native Americans. A great historical educational resource for kids on the subject of the History of Montana Indians..
