SIOUX AND ASSINIBOINE

THESE NATIVES ARE IN THE FORT PECK RESERVATION IN NORTHEAST MONTANA. THEY HAVE 12,000 MEMBERS WITH 6000 LIVING NEAR THE RESERVATION. THE FORT PECK RESERVATION WAS FORMED IN 1871. THE AGENCY MOVED TO POPLAR AS IT FLOODED EACH SPRING. THE GOVERNMENT CREATED WARFARE BY TRYING TO TAKE THE BLACK HILLS. THIS DEVELOPED INTO THE BATTLE OF LITTLE BIGHORN IN 1876. AS THE VICXTORS DISPERSED, SITTING BULLS LED FOLLOWERS NORTH INTO THE RED WATER COUNTRY BY FORT PECK. WHEN MILITARY PRESSURE INCREASED HE LED HIS FOLLOWERS INTO CANADA IN 1877. FINALLY SITTING BULL SURRENDERED IN 1881 WHEN THEY HAD FEW SUPPLIES. SOME OF THE INDIANS INTERMARRIED. BY THIS TIME ALL THE BUFFALO WERE GONE. BY 1883 300 ASSINIBOINES DIED OF STARVATION. AT WOLF POIINT WHEN FOOD AND MEDICINE WERE LACKING IT WAS A DIFFICULT WINTER AS WELL AND THERE WERE CHANGES IN THE INDIAN AGENTS. CONGRESS PASSED AN ACT IN 1887 TO PROVIDE THE INDIANS TO OWN THEIR OWN PARCELS OF LAND. AT THIS TIEM THE SETTLERS CAME INTO THE AREA AND WANTED THE PRIME FARMLANDS. FORT PECK WAS OPENED TO HOMESTEADINGBY 1908. EACH INDIAN RECEIVED 320 ACRES IN ADDITION TO SOME TIMBER LAND. PARCELS WERE WITHHELD FOR AGENCY SCHOOL AND CHURCH. IN 1913 1.3 MILLION ACRES OF UNALTERED LANDS WERE AVAILABLE FOR SETTLERS. IN 1877 THEY DEVELOPED A GOVERNMENT