KALISPEL INDIANS

THEY HAVE RICH TRADITIONS THAT HAVE TAUGHT US HOW TO WORK TOGETHER TO ADVANCE OUR PEOPLE. THEY WERE SEMI NOMADIC HUNTERS. THEY ARE CALLED RIVER LAKE PADDLERS. THEIR RESERVATION IS LOCATED IN THE USK, WASHINGTON. THEY HAVE OVER 400 MEMBERS. 54% ARE UNDER 18 YEARS OLD. ONE THIRD OF THE MEMBERS LIVE ON THE RESERVATION. DURING THE LATE 1800'S THE TRIBE WORKED TO PRESERVE THE CULTURE AND LIFE IN THE MIDST OF INCREASING WHITE SETTLEMENT.


IN 1855 THE KALISPEL HAD NO CONTACT WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. THEY DID NOT GET PROTECTION. BY 1875 THEIR POPULATION WAS 395. AT THIS TIME THERE WAS WIDESPREAD USE OF ALCOHOL AND IT BECAME THE BREAKDOWN OF THE FAMILY. ONLY SEVERAL HOMES HAD RUNNING WATER. THEIR INCOME WAS ABOUT 1400 PER MEMBER ANNUALLY. MOST OF THEIR LAND WAS UNSUITABLE FOR DEVELOPMENT.


THEY LIVE ABOUT 55 MILES NORTH OF SPOKANE. THEIR MAIN RESERVATION RESERVATION 4600 ACRES NEAR USK, WASHINGTON. IN 1995 THEY ADDED 440 ACRES OF TRUST LAND ADJACENT TO THE BOUNDARY FOR WILDLIFE.
THEIR CULTURAL DEPARTMENT AIMS TO ENHANCE AND PERPETUATE THEIR FORGOTTEN TRADITIONS OF THEIR PEOPLE THROUGH THEIR CUSTOMS. THEIR CULTURAL TRADITIONS INCLUDE: HUNTING, FISHING, AND GATHERING. THEY DIG CAMA AND BAKE IT. THEY PICK HUCKLEBERRIES AND GATHER BITTEROOT, TAN HIDES, BEAD SKINS AND CAPS AND DEERSKIN DRESSES, MAKE REGALIA FOR DANCES, WEAVE BASKETS, DRY MEAT, AND TEACH THEIR YOUNG IN A CULTURAL CAMP.

THEY WISH TO PROTECT THEIR LANGUAGE PROGRAM AND IT TIES THEM TO THEIR LAND! THEY OFFER LANGUAGE CLASSES.

KALISPEL TRIBE.COM