Area Indians
by Bob Gunter
This group of Native Americans lived in the northern most part of the Great Basin. From Idaho they spread into Canada, Montana, and Washington. The Kutenai were migratory and in the summer would move to the plains of Montana to hunt bison.
Long before the white man set foot on what is now called the Great Basin (the area around Lake Pend d' Oreille) the land was populated by three tribes of Indians, the Kutenai, Kalispel, and the Coeur d' Alenes.
1. Kutenai
This group of Native Americans lived in the northern most part of the Great Basin. From Idaho they spread into Canada, Montana, and Washington. The Kutenai were migratory and in the summer would move to the plains of Montana to hunt bison. The meat was transported to the winter quarters by dogs and later by horses. Their diet also consisted of berries, nuts, roots, wild vegetables, and the many animals found in the region. Food was stored in underground caches to keep it from spoiling and protect it from animals.
The Kutenai were excellent fishermen and built traps to be placed in the many lakes and streams of the area. Fishing was a group activity with each person having an assignment. The women would clean and prepare the fish by drying or cooking for meals. The Kutenai were almost entirely dependent on the plants and meat they secured in the summer. Occasionally a deer or elk would be killed in the winter to supplement their diet.
The Kutenai did not follow an all-powerful chief. There were fishing chiefs, a war chief, hunting chiefs, and others. These chiefs were chosen for their past exploits or for their knowledge. Probably the most powerful person was the religious leader since he was also the Sun Dance Leader.
2. Kalispel
These tribes lived further south than the Kutenai and peopled the area around the lake and the nearby forests. Their territory extended into Canada, Washington, and Montana from Idaho. They lived in much smaller groups than the Kutenai and enjoyed a good relationship and traded with the Spokane, Coeur d'Alene, and Kutenai tribes. Their trading also included some Plains Indians.
The hunting practices were similar to the Kutenai and there was a migration each year to The Plains to hunt Bison but to a lesser degree than did the Kutenai. The other elements of their diet was about the same as their neighbors to the north. Most of the gathering and the preparation of meat was done by the women. The men did the fishing and hunting for the tribe. Like the Kutenai everything they used came from what they gathered or killed. Their food tools, clothes they wore, and their shelter came from the land in which they lived.
The Kalispel government was much like the mayor-council form of government. Their leaders had limited power and what power they had came mostly from persuasion and by setting a good example for the tribe to follow. The position of headman came by appointment of a council.
3. The Coeur d'Alene
The Coeur d' Alene Indians in Idaho lived in the territory around Lake Coeur d'Alene and extended into Washington and Montana. Their supply of food came from about the same sources as did the Kalispel and Kutenai.
The Coeur d'Alene traveled to the south to fish and went east to hunt. Their hunt for food was much like the Kalispel and Kutenai except they did some hunting in the winter due to a slightly warmer climate. They also had an active trade going with other tribes of the region.
The tribes of this section of Idaho, Washington, Montana and Canada used to come to what is now City Beach to hold annual Pow-Wows. There would be games, dancing, and much trading of goods. The town people would join in the fun and there was often a ball game between the locals and the Indians.
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All photographs have been used with permission of the Bonner County Museum.
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