Rocky Boy's Reservation

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The Rocky Boy Indian Reservation , German Rocky Boys Reservation is an Indian reservation of Chippewa - and Cree - Indians ( Chippewa Cree Tribe and Anni Hinabe Ne-i-yah-wahk ) in the central north of the US state of Montana . It is the smallest of the seven reserves in Montana.

geography

The Rocky Boys reservation covers an area of ​​122,259 acres (approx. 495 km² ).

In the southeast are the Bear Paw Mountains . A hilly landscape is predominant in the center. The north is characterized by a semi-arid plain.

The northeast of the reservation is in Hill County , the southwest is in Chouteau County .

The city of Havre is 26 miles to the north of the Rocky Boys Reservation. The Canadian border is a good 60 kilometers to the north .

history

Part of the Chippewa-Cree tribe goes back to a group of Cree Indians under the leadership of Little Bear who emigrated south to the USA after the Riel Rebellion in 1885. They were joined by a group of "landless" Chippewa three decades later.

The reserve was established in 1916 as part of the former Fort Assiniboine Military Reserve .

The name of the reserve comes from an incorrect translation of the name of a Chippewa tribal leader, whose name would be more likely to translate as Stone Child .

population

According to various sources, the Chippewa Cree Tribe had enrolled members between 1931 and 6,000 . Around 2,500 people are said to live in the reserve area.

Proof of a quarter of the blood ( blood quantum ) is required for the recognition of the tribal affiliation . This is the case, for example, if a grandparent is or was a member of the tribe.

traffic

The US Highway 87 between Havre and Great Falls cut the reserve area near Box Elder . The road network in the reserve is a total of 216 miles (approx. 348 km), of which 62 miles are asphalt roads.

There is no city in the reserve. The area is completely rural.

economy

The economy of the reserve is mainly based on agriculture, livestock and forestry. The tribe owns the Bear Paw Ski Bowl and a steel processing factory. Yet almost half of the reserve population lives below the poverty line. The unemployment rate is high because of the lack of jobs; in winter it is 70%. Most jobs are created in schools, the Bureau of Indian Affairs , the Indian health service, and tribal administration.

education

The first school on the reserve was established in 1918. Until 1970, pupils who wanted to attend secondary school after the sixth grade had to go to Havre, Box Elder or boarding schools further away. That year the reservation established the Rocky Boy Elementary School as the first Native American school in Montana and the second in the United States.

In addition to Rocky Boy High School , Stone Child College , founded in 1984, offers a two-year degree in Arts and Sciences .

politics

According to the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934, the Rocky Boys Reservation has had a tribal constitution since 1935 ( Constitution and Bylaws of the Chippewa Cree Tribe of the Rocky Boy's Reservation, Montana ).

Tribal council

The reservation is governed by the tribe's Business Committee , which consists of a chairman, vice chairman and seven assessors. They are each elected for a four-year term.

Current members and their terms of office are (as of 4/2016):

  • Chair: Ken St.Marks (2012–2016)
  • Vice-Chair: Dustin Whitford (2012-2016)
  • Secretary / Treasurer (appointed): Janice Myers
  • Assessor:
    • Harlan Baker (2014-2018)
    • Ted Demontiney (2012-2016)
    • Calvin Jilot (2014-2018)
    • Jody LaMere (2014-2018)
    • Beau Mitchell (2014-2018)
    • Ted Russette III (2012-2016)

Web links

Commons : Rocky Boy's Reservation  - collection of pictures, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Rocky Boy's Reservation ( English ) In: Geographic Names Information System . United States Geological Survey . Retrieved February 6, 2011.
  2. ↑ a b c d e f g Montana Governor's Office of Indian Affairs: Chippewa Cree Tribe
  3. ↑ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Office of Public Instruction: Montana Indians: Their History and Location (PDF), version dated March 2, 2016
  4. ↑ a b c d American Indian Relief Council (AIRC): Montana: Rocky Boy Reservation
  5. ↑ Montana Tribes: Chippewa Abstract ( Memento of the original from January 10, 2011 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.montanatribes.org
  6. ^ Bureau of Indian Affairs : Rocky Boy's Agency

Coordinates: 48 ° 16 '  N , 109 ° 49'  W