Montana is home to 12 tribal nations and seven reservations. Tribal nations are sovereign governments with their own constitutions, councils, courts and services.
The reservations
- Blackfeet (Blackfeet Nation)
- Crow (Apsáalooke Nation)
- Flathead (Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes)
- Fort Belknap (Aaniiih/Gros Ventre and Nakoda/Assiniboine)
- Fort Peck (Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes)
- Northern Cheyenne
- Rocky Boy’s (Chippewa Cree)
The Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians gained federal recognition in 2019 and does not have a reservation in the same sense.
Indian Education for All
Article X of the 1972 Montana Constitution commits the state to recognizing the distinct cultural heritage of American Indians and preserving their cultural integrity. The Legislature put this into practice through Indian Education for All, which brings tribal history and culture into K–12 classrooms statewide.
Learn more
The Governor’s Office of Indian Affairs and each tribal government’s official site are the best sources for current leadership and services.
For more background, see our explainers on Chief Plenty Coups and Montana’s hunting season basics. Find more stories in our Community section.
Sources
- Montana Governor’s Office of Indian Affairs: https://tribalnations.mt.gov/
- Montana OPI, Indian Education for All: https://opi.mt.gov/Educators/Teaching-Learning/Indian-Education-for-All
- Montana Constitution, Article X: https://leg.mt.gov/bills/mca/title_0000/article_0100/