KALISPEL INDIANS IN WASHINGTON

THIS TRIBE ORIGINALLY LIVED 55 MILES WEST OF SPOKANE, WASHINGTON. THERE HISTORY IS DEFINED AS WHERE THEY ARE GOING AS WELL AS WHERE THEY HAVE BEEN. IT WAS IN THE 1800'S WHEN THE WHITE PRIESTS CAME TO CONVERT THE TRIBE AND THE INDIANS WERE WORKING TO PRESERVE THEIR CULTURE AND LIFE. IN 1855 UPPER KALISPEL TRIBE CEDED ITS LAND AND MOVED TO THE JOCKE RESERVATION IN MONTANA AS THE GOVERNMENT REQUESTED. THE LOWER KALISPELE REFUSED TO GIVE UP ANCESTRAL LANDS AND CONTINUED TO WORK FOR AN AGREEMENT THAT WOULD ALLOW THE TRIBE TO STAY THERE. DURING THE LATE 1880'S WHILE MOST TRIBES WERE MOVING TO A RESERVATION, THE KALISPEL HAD NO RELATIONSHIP WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. IN 1874 CONGRESS PROPOSED A TREATY BUT THE TRIBE REFUSED. BY 1875 THEIR POPULATION SHRUNK TO 395 PEOPLE, AS MORE ANGLOS MOVED TO THEIR LANDS. MOST SETTLERS FILLED CLAIMS FOR THEIR HOMES UNDER THE HOMESTEAD ACT. THE INDIANS LOST THEIR LANDS. AT THIS TIME IN 1965 ALCOHOL WAS INTRODUCED THROUGHOUT THEIR TRIBES. IT WAS CONSIDERED TO BE THE FUNDAMENTAL SOURCE OF BREAKING APART THE FAMILY. FOR GENERATIONS THESE INDIANS REMAINED TRAPPED IN THIS SOURCE IN THIS SUBSTANCE ABUSE ENVIRONMENT. THEIR AVERAGE INCOME WAS $1400 PER PERSON PER YEAR. THEIR OTHER CHALLENGES WERE UNEMPLOYMENT, INADEQUATE HOUSING, LIMITED ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY AND PREJUDICE. NO LAND WAS SUITABLE TO DEVELOP ON THE RESERVATION. THEY ARE WORKING TOWARDS THEIR FUTURE. THIER CULTURAL ACTIVITIES INCLUDE CAMAS DIG AND BAKE, HUCKLEBERRY PICKING, BITTEROOT PICKING, HIDE TANNING, BEADING, ROACH MAKING, REGALIA, BASKET WEAVING, DRYING MEAT AND ANIMAL CAMPS FOR CHILDREN.

THEIR GOAL IS TO ENHANCE GOAL IS TO ENHANCE AND PERPETUATE THEIR CULTURE CHILDREN AND COMMUNITY LIFE WAYS THAT HAVE BEEN FORGOTTEN FROM THEIR ANCESTORS

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