Chippewa Cree
Encyclopedia
The Chippewa Cree Tribe is a mixed group of Native Americans
in Montana
, among the last to come into the state. They are descended from Cree
that had come south from Canada
, and from Chippewa that had moved west from the Turtle Mountains
in North Dakota
.
in January 1902 for land and a reservation to call home so their band of men, women and children could get an education. The members were counted in a 1909 census conducted by Thralls B. Wheat, an allotting agent of the Department of the Interior. This census was certified by the agency in April 1909.
Congress passed legislation on September 7, 1916, creating the Rocky Boy Indian Reservation
. In May 1917 the Interior Department generated a new census that consisted mainly of Cree
and Métis
who were found to have been born in Canada . Less than 45 of the 451 names that comprised the "Tentative Roll of the Rocky Boy Indian Reservation" were actual Chippewa from the earlier 1909 roll . The Cree are descendants of Chief Little Bear (Imasees) and the Métis are descendants of the Louis Riel band of Métis . In spite of major deficiencies in the 1917 roll, it was approved by the Department of the Interior in July 1917. The Cree and Métis are present upon the Rocky Boy Reservation under self declared adopted status, as worded in the Chippewa Cree Tribal Constitution, certified by the Department of the Interior in 1935.
This same constitution has eliminated many of Asiniiwin’s descendants and his clan's descendants under a ten year absentee provision, though the Chippewa Cree Business Committee recently repealed this act; it has retained its ability to address "abandonment of tribal membership." The Cree and Métis make up over 90% of "tribal enrollees," the remnants of Chief Asiniiwin’s people are scattered throughout the towns of the Pacific Northwest, a good segment of them bought plots of land on Hill 57, outside Great Falls, Montana
after leaving the reservation; therefore; their names were not included in the governments May 1917 census.
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
in Montana
Montana
Montana is a state in the Western United States. The western third of Montana contains numerous mountain ranges. Smaller, "island ranges" are found in the central third of the state, for a total of 77 named ranges of the Rocky Mountains. This geographical fact is reflected in the state's name,...
, among the last to come into the state. They are descended from Cree
Cree
The Cree are one of the largest groups of First Nations / Native Americans in North America, with 200,000 members living in Canada. In Canada, the major proportion of Cree live north and west of Lake Superior, in Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and the Northwest Territories, although...
that had come south from Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, and from Chippewa that had moved west from the Turtle Mountains
Turtle Mountain (plateau)
Turtle Mountain, or the Turtle Mountains, is an area in central North America, in the north-central portion of the U.S. state of North Dakota and southwestern portion of the Canadian province of Manitoba...
in North Dakota
North Dakota
North Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States of America, along the Canadian border. The state is bordered by Canada to the north, Minnesota to the east, South Dakota to the south and Montana to the west. North Dakota is the 19th-largest state by area in the U.S....
.
History
The Chippewa-Chief Asiniiwin and Cree-Chief Little Bear were the founders of the Rocky Boy Indian Reservation in north central Montana for whom the Reservation was named. They petitioned President Theodore RooseveltTheodore Roosevelt
Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt was the 26th President of the United States . He is noted for his exuberant personality, range of interests and achievements, and his leadership of the Progressive Movement, as well as his "cowboy" persona and robust masculinity...
in January 1902 for land and a reservation to call home so their band of men, women and children could get an education. The members were counted in a 1909 census conducted by Thralls B. Wheat, an allotting agent of the Department of the Interior. This census was certified by the agency in April 1909.
Congress passed legislation on September 7, 1916, creating the Rocky Boy Indian Reservation
Rocky Boy Indian Reservation
The Rocky Boy's Indian Reservation is an Indian reservation of the Chippewa Cree Tribe located in the U.S. state of Montana. The smallest reservation in the state, it was established by Executive Order on September 7, 1916. The Chippewa Cree Tribe of the Rocky Boy's Indian Reservation was...
. In May 1917 the Interior Department generated a new census that consisted mainly of Cree
Cree
The Cree are one of the largest groups of First Nations / Native Americans in North America, with 200,000 members living in Canada. In Canada, the major proportion of Cree live north and west of Lake Superior, in Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and the Northwest Territories, although...
and Métis
Métis people (Canada)
The Métis are one of the Aboriginal peoples in Canada who trace their descent to mixed First Nations parentage. The term was historically a catch-all describing the offspring of any such union, but within generations the culture syncretised into what is today a distinct aboriginal group, with...
who were found to have been born in Canada . Less than 45 of the 451 names that comprised the "Tentative Roll of the Rocky Boy Indian Reservation" were actual Chippewa from the earlier 1909 roll . The Cree are descendants of Chief Little Bear (Imasees) and the Métis are descendants of the Louis Riel band of Métis . In spite of major deficiencies in the 1917 roll, it was approved by the Department of the Interior in July 1917. The Cree and Métis are present upon the Rocky Boy Reservation under self declared adopted status, as worded in the Chippewa Cree Tribal Constitution, certified by the Department of the Interior in 1935.
This same constitution has eliminated many of Asiniiwin’s descendants and his clan's descendants under a ten year absentee provision, though the Chippewa Cree Business Committee recently repealed this act; it has retained its ability to address "abandonment of tribal membership." The Cree and Métis make up over 90% of "tribal enrollees," the remnants of Chief Asiniiwin’s people are scattered throughout the towns of the Pacific Northwest, a good segment of them bought plots of land on Hill 57, outside Great Falls, Montana
Great Falls, Montana
Great Falls is a city in and the county seat of Cascade County, Montana, United States. The population was 58,505 at the 2010 census. It is the principal city of the Great Falls, Montana Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Cascade County...
after leaving the reservation; therefore; their names were not included in the governments May 1917 census.