Fort Belknap Indian Reservation (Montana)

The Fort Belknap Indian Reservation is a federally-recognized reservation, located in north-central Montana, between Havre and Glasgow. It is primarily in Blaine County, with a smaller portion in Phillips County.


 * Established -- September 17, 1851 and 17 Oct. 1855
 * Agency (BIA) -- Fort Belknap Indian Agency at Harlem, Montana
 * Principal tribes -- Assiniboine and the Grosventre (Atsina), Blackfeet Indians, and the Little Shell Band of Chippewa Indians, Montana
 * Population -- 2010 census is 2,704 (when including mixed bloods it's 2,738) - Does not include non Indians 1969: Tribal enrollment 3,557.

History
Fort Belknap Reservation was established by Treaty of Oct. 17, 1855; unratified treaties of July 18, 1866, and July 13, and 15 and Sept. 1, 1868; Executive orders, July 5, 1873, and Aug. 19,1874; an act of Apr. 15, 1874; Executive orders, Apr. 13, 1875, and July 13,1880; agreement made Jan. 21, 1887, approved by Congress May 1, 1888; and an agreement made Oct. 9, 1895, approved by act of June 10, 1896.

The area of the reservation in 1908 was 497,600 acres.

Land records: Tribally-owned 162,932.63 adres. Allotted land: 427,579.93.

Fort Belknap Reservation is within the original Blackfeet Reservation which was created on September 17, 1851 and approved on October 17, 1855. Little Shell Blackfeet Chippewa leaders continued to govern the original Blackfeet Reservation which was created on September 17, 1851, well into the early 20th century.

In 1921, a meeting was held at Joseph Paul's family's ranch near Lewistown, Montana. It was probably about filing a land claims lawsuit about the original Blackfeet Reservation which was created on September 17, 1851. However, the Little Shell Blackfeet Chippewa's continued to govern the original Blackfeet Reservation which was created on September 17, 1851.

On June 10, 1939, another meeting was held at Joseph Paul's home in Great Falls, Montana. Even during 1939, they were assigning district representatives for the original Blackfeet Reservation which was created on September 17, 1851.

After World War II, many of the Little Shell Blackfeet Chippewa leaders became despondent and commenced to act on their own. In 1950, Joseph Dussome gave up and hired a lawyer and then filed a land claims lawsuit about the original Blackfeet Reservation created on September 17, 1851. On April 5, 1974, the United States again refused to honor the treaty which created the Little Shell Blackfeet Chippewa's original Blackfeet Reservation which the Fort Belknap Reservation is within.

Communities
Fort Belknap Agency: 2010 population is 1,293. Indians make up 96.6% of the population of Fort Belknap Agency. There are three distinct communities which make up Fort Belknap Agency. About a half a mile south of the main community of Fort Belknap Agency is a cluster of housing units. It's population is a part of Fort Belknap Agency. About a half a mile south of Central Fort Belknap Agency is another cluster of housing units. It's population is also a part of Fort Belknap Agency. It covers 45.76 sq. mi. which is a lot of land.

Hays: 2010 population is 843. Indians make up 93.2% of the population of Hays. Like Fort Belknap Agency, Hays is made up of at least four distinct communitites. About 0.9 miles to the southeast of the main area of Hays, is a cluster of housing units. It's population is a part of Hays. About 0.8 miles to the northeast of the main area of Hays, is another cluster of Housing units. It's population is a part of Hays. About 3.9 miles north of the main area of Hays, is another cluster of housing units. It's population is a part of Hays. Hays covers 27.05 sq. mi. It covers a large area.

Lodge Pole: 2010 population is 265. Indians make up 97% of the population. Like both Fort Belknap Agency and Hays, Lodge Pole is made up of three distinct communities. About 0.4 miles southeast of the main area of Lodge Pole is a cluster of housing units. It's population is a part of Lodge Pole. About 0.8 miles north of the main area of Lodge Pole is a new cluster of housing units. It's population is a part of Lodge Pole.

There are at least 10 distinct communities on the Fort Belknap Reservation. However, Reservation leaders follow County and State laws. Reservation leaders should have full authority over the 10 communities. They should issue each distinct community it's own community name and define each communities borders or village limits. They should also give each community the power of jurisdiction, or allow the citizens of each community to elect their community leaders.

Records
Many of the records of individual Indians living on the Fort Belknap Reservation were kept by the Fort Belknap Agency of the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Others are kept by the Tribal Office.