What Tribes Are in Montana? A Clear and Complete Guide

If you are asking what tribes are in Montana, here is the direct answer.

According to the list we found eight federally recognized tribes in the state of Montana. They are:

1. Blackfeet Nation
2. Crow Tribe of Montana
3. Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes
4. Northern Cheyenne Tribe
5. On the Fort Peck Indian Reservation, well known Assiniboine Tribes and Sioux Tribes
6. Chippewa Cree Tribe of the Rocky Boy’s Reservation
7. Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians of Montana
8. Fort Belknap Indian Community

Each tribe has its own government, history, and cultural identity. They are not one group. They are distinct nations with deep roots in the land now called Montana.

If you have read our article on what tribes are in New Mexico, you already know something important. Every state has its own tribal story. Montana’s story is powerful, resilient, and sometimes heartbreaking.

Let’s break it down clearly.

🏔️ Montana Tribes by Reservation

Most Montana tribes live on reservations. A reservation is land set aside for a tribe by treaty or federal law. It is not a “gift.” It is often land that remains after massive loss.

Here are the major reservations and the tribes connected to them.

Blackfeet Indian Reservation – Blackfeet Nation

The Blackfeet Nation lives in northern Montana, near the Canadian border and east of Glacier National Park.

Historically, the Blackfeet were buffalo hunters and fierce defenders of their territory. Their lands once stretched far into Canada. Today, their reservation covers about 1.5 million acres.

The Blackfeet speak Blackfoot, an Algonquian language. Cultural revival programs now teach the language to younger generations. Language is survival. Without it, memory fades.

Crow Reservation – Crow Tribe of Montana

In south-central Montana there live the tribes called Crow Tribe.

The Crow call themselves the Apsáalooke, meaning “children of the large-beaked bird.” Their culture centers on horsemanship, family clans, and spiritual ceremonies.

The Crow Reservation is one of the largest in the United States. The annual Crow Fair is often called “The Teepee Capital of the World.” Thousands gather. Drums echo. Tradition breathes.

Flathead Reservation – Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes

The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes govern the Flathead Reservation in western Montana.

This is a confederation of three tribes:

• Bitterroot Salish
• Upper Pend d’Oreille
• Kootenai

They were forced from the Bitterroot Valley after treaty violations. Their story includes broken promises and relocation. Yet today, they operate strong tribal courts, colleges, and natural resource programs.

If you want to understand tribal sovereignty better, read our breakdown in Are Tribes Sovereign Nations? What It Really Means. It connects directly to how Montana tribes govern themselves.

Northern Cheyenne Reservation – Northern Cheyenne Tribe

The Northern Cheyenne Tribe lives in southeastern Montana.

Their ancestors survived the brutal Northern Cheyenne Exodus of 1878. They fled Indian Territory, now Oklahoma, to return to their northern homeland. Many died on that journey.

Their story echoes themes we explored in What Tribes Were in the Trail of Tears. Removal policies did not affect only southeastern tribes. Federal displacement touched tribes across the country.

Today, the Northern Cheyenne work to preserve language and ceremonial traditions. Cultural continuity is resistance.

Fort Peck Reservation – Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes

In northeastern Montana two different tribes Assiniboine Tribes and Sioux Tribes share land side by side.

This reservation includes:

• Assiniboine (Nakoda)
• Sioux (Dakota and Lakota)

They are culturally related but distinct nations. Governance is shared under one tribal council.

The Fort Peck Tribes operate colleges, healthcare systems, and buffalo restoration programs. Buffalo are not symbolic. They are ecological and spiritual anchors.

Rocky Boy’s Reservation – Chippewa Cree Tribe

The Chippewa Cree Tribe of the Rocky Boy’s Reservation lives in north-central Montana.

Rocky Boy’s Reservation is one of the smallest in the state. It was established in 1916 for landless Chippewa and Cree people.

Despite limited land, the tribe maintains strong community identity. Their language preservation programs are active and urgent.

Fort Belknap Reservation – Fort Belknap Indian Community

The Fort Belknap Indian Community includes:

• Gros Ventre (Aaniiih)
• Assiniboine (Nakoda)

They share land in north-central Montana.

The Aaniiih language nearly disappeared. Now immersion programs are bringing it back. One elder once said, “When we speak our words, the ancestors listen.” That sentence carries weight.

Little Shell Tribe – Landless but Recognized

As recorded in 2019, the Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians gained federal recognition.

For decades, they were landless and unrecognized. Recognition does not erase struggle. It opens doors to healthcare, housing programs, and federal support.

They are headquartered in Great Falls. Their recognition story shows how complex tribal status can be.

If you have wondered whether tribes can face federal law enforcement, see our article on Can Tribes Get Arrested?. Legal authority in Indian Country is layered and sometimes confusing.

How Many Native American Tribes Are in Montana?

There are eight federally recognized tribes in Montana. However, within those tribes are multiple cultural groups and languages.

Do not confuse “reservation” with “tribe.” Some reservations host more than one tribe. Some tribes share governance.

Montana has one of the highest percentages of Native American residents in the United States. Native communities shape the state’s politics, economy, and culture.

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A Brief History of Montana Tribes

Before state lines existed, these lands were tribal homelands.

Tribes followed buffalo migrations. They traded across regions that now include Canada, Wyoming, and the Dakotas.

Then came treaties.

Many treaties promised protection of lands. Many were broken. Land cessions followed. Reservations shrank. Boarding schools attempted to erase culture.

If you are new to this topic, start with our article Are Tribes Real? Truth About Tribal Communities. It dismantles the myth that tribes are relics of the past.

Montana tribes are modern governments with courts, police, colleges, and businesses.

They are not frozen in history.

Are Montana Tribes Sovereign?

Yes.

Montana tribes are sovereign nations within the United States. That means they govern their own members and territory, within federal limits.

They have:

• Tribal courts
• Law enforcement
• Constitutions
• Business enterprises

Sovereignty does not mean complete independence. It means limited self-rule recognized by federal law.

This becomes important when discussing legal questions like those in Can Uncontacted Tribes Be Arrested? or public misconceptions explored in Are Tribes Dangerous?.

Sovereignty shapes everything from taxation to environmental policy.

Culture and Traditions of Montana Tribes

As we see every tribe here got their unique languages, cultural festivals and even their own governance structures. Still, some themes connect them:

• Respect for land
• Importance of extended family
• Oral storytelling
• Spiritual ceremonies
• Buffalo restoration

Powwows remain central. They are not tourist shows. They are living gatherings of dance, music, and identity.

Language revitalization is urgent work. When a language dies, a worldview disappears.

Montana tribes are fighting that erosion with immersion schools and digital archives.

Economic Life on Montana Reservations

Economic conditions vary.

Some tribes operate successful enterprises, including energy development, agriculture, and gaming facilities. Others struggle with unemployment and underfunded infrastructure.

Do not assume all tribes own casinos. That myth appears often. Our article discussing whether only tribes can own casinos explains the broader picture.

Economic development intersects with sovereignty. Tribes must balance cultural preservation with economic survival.

Education and Modern Leadership

Montana tribes operate tribal colleges, including Salish Kootenai College and Little Big Horn College.

These institutions teach both academic subjects and tribal history. They bridge tradition and modern careers.

Leadership often blends elders’ guidance with younger professionals trained in law and public administration.

The narrative is not “past versus present.” It is integration.

Montana Tribes in a Broader Context

When comparing Montana tribes to tribes in Oklahoma or Arizona, differences become clear.

Oklahoma has many tribes due to forced relocation. You can explore that in What Tribes Are in Oklahoma?.

Arizona has strong Pueblo and Navajo presence. That is covered in What Tribes Are in Arizona?.

Montana’s tribal history centers more on Plains cultures and buffalo economies.

If you are curious about tribal diversity globally, see our explorations of how tribes are structured in Nigeria and how tribes are organized in Kenya. The concept of tribe changes across continents.

Common Misconceptions About Montana Tribes

Let’s clear a few myths.

Myth 1: All tribes are the same.
False. Each tribe has distinct language, governance, and history.

Myth 2: Reservations are gifts from the government.
No. Reservations are remnants of much larger homelands.

Myth 3: Tribal communities are stuck in the past.
Not even close. They operate modern institutions while protecting ancient traditions.

Why Understanding Montana Tribes Matters

Understanding what tribes are in Montana is not trivia. It is civic awareness.

Tribal governments influence water rights, wildlife policy, and regional politics. Cultural understanding reduces stereotypes.

Imagine visiting Montana and seeing only mountains. You would miss half the story.

The land holds memory. The people carry it forward.

Final Thoughts: What Tribes Are in Montana?

Montana is home to eight federally recognized tribes:

• Blackfeet Nation
• Crow Tribe of Montana
• Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes
• Northern Cheyenne Tribe
• Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes of Fort Peck
• Chippewa Cree Tribe
• Fort Belknap Indian Community
• Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians

They are sovereign nations. And they are culturally distinct. They are contemporary communities shaping Montana’s present and future.

If you want to deepen your understanding of tribal sovereignty, legal authority, and cultural identity, explore the related TalkieTrail articles mentioned throughout this guide.

Learning about tribes is not about memorizing names. It is about recognizing living nations that have endured, adapted, and continued.

And that story is still being written.