The story of Rocky Boy’s Reservation is a testament to the resilience, perseverance, and enduring spirit of the Chippewa and Cree people. It is a narrative woven with threads of cultural heritage, historical injustice, and the unwavering pursuit of a homeland. This article delves into the unique circumstances surrounding the establishment of Rocky Boy’s Reservation, its geographical significance, and the early years of struggle and adaptation for its inhabitants. The Rocky Boy’s Reservation stands as a symbol of hope and self-determination for a people who, against all odds, carved out a space to call their own.
A Shared Heritage Rooted in the Plains
The Chippewa and Cree tribes, deeply connected by shared traditions and intertwined histories, were originally inhabitants of the vast Great Plains. Their lives were intrinsically linked to the buffalo, a keystone species that provided sustenance, clothing, shelter, and a spiritual anchor for their culture. For millennia, the Cree people thrived as hunters and gatherers, their existence dictated by the rhythm of the seasons and the movement of the buffalo herds. The western Chippewa, also known as the Ojibwe, adopted a similar lifestyle in the early 19th century, forging a cultural and economic bond with the Cree that would shape their shared destiny.
These two tribes, the Chippewa and the Cree, were frequently observed traveling together between what is now Montana and Canada, united in their pursuit of the buffalo. This shared experience fostered a close relationship between them, laying the groundwork for their eventual alliance in the face of adversity.
A People Adrift: The Landless Indians
The late 19th and early 20th centuries witnessed a dramatic shift in the landscape of the American West. Treaties were signed, reservations were established, and the traditional way of life for many Native American tribes was irrevocably altered. However, neither Chief Rocky Boy of the Chippewa nor Chief Little Bear of the Cree signed any treaties relinquishing their ancestral lands. This omission, or perhaps purposeful avoidance, had profound consequences. As the treaty period drew to a close, they found themselves increasingly unwelcome in a land rapidly transforming into a patchwork of reservations and settlements.
Without a treaty-defined territory, the Chippewa and Cree were effectively landless, relegated to the margins of society. They lacked a permanent home, a place where they could cultivate their livelihoods, raise their families, and practice their traditional beliefs without fear of displacement or persecution. This precarious situation spurred both chiefs to embark on a relentless quest for a homeland, a sanctuary where their people could rebuild their lives and preserve their cultural identity. This is the story of the Rocky Boy’s Reservation.
A Unique Reservation: Forged in the Crucible of Hardship
Rocky Boy’s Reservation distinguishes itself from other reservations in Montana in several key aspects. Unlike most reservations, which were established through treaties between the U.S. government and Native American tribes, Rocky Boy’s Reservation was created by an act of Congress. This unique circumstance reflects the unusual situation of the Chippewa and Cree, who had not signed any prior treaties. Furthermore, Rocky Boy’s Reservation is the smallest in Montana, both in terms of land area and tribal population, underscoring the challenges faced by the Chippewa Cree in securing a permanent homeland.
The Petition for a Homeland: Allies and Obstacles
Chief Rocky Boy and Chief Little Bear spearheaded the effort to secure a reservation for their people, tirelessly petitioning the federal government and seeking support from influential white citizens sympathetic to their plight. Their frequent presence in Montana’s urban centers, such as Great Falls and Helena, allowed them to forge alliances with prominent figures who recognized the injustice of their situation.
William Bole, the editor of the Great Falls Tribune, became a vocal advocate for the Chippewa and Cree cause, using his newspaper to raise awareness and rally public support. The renowned artist Charles M. Russell, captivated by the beauty of the West and the plight of its indigenous inhabitants, lent his artistic talent and social influence to their cause. Frank B. Linderman, a writer and conservationist from Helena, also joined their ranks, using his literary skills and political connections to champion their cause.
However, the path to securing a reservation was fraught with obstacles. Rocky Boy’s petitions initially met with greater success than Little Bear’s, largely due to the perception that Rocky Boy was an "American Indian," while Little Bear was often viewed as a "Canadian Indian," a distinction that reflected the complex political landscape of the time.
One of the earliest proposals involved settling Rocky Boy’s band on the Flathead Reservation, but the bill ultimately failed to pass Congress. Subsequently, Congress allocated $30,000 and 60 townships in Valley County for the support of Rocky Boy’s band. However, this initiative was hampered by logistical challenges, including exorbitant transportation costs imposed by the railroad and the fact that white settlers had already filed "declarations of occupancy" on the land during the winter months, effectively nullifying the government’s plan.
In 1909, Rocky Boy’s band was ordered to settle on the Blackfeet Reservation, with 11,000 acres (80 acres per member) set aside in the far northwest near Babb, Montana. However, this arrangement proved untenable, as many Chippewa felt that 80 acres was insufficient, the land was too high, the winters too severe, and the acreage was inadequate for supporting cattle or farming. Disheartened by these conditions, many band members deserted Rocky Boy, further complicating the situation.
The Vision of Pah-nah-to: The Bear Paw Mountains
While Rocky Boy and Little Bear were navigating the complexities of government bureaucracy, another Chippewa leader named Pah-nah-to, married to Prairie Dog, was also seeking a homeland for his people. Pah-nah-to focused his attention on the abandoned Fort Assiniboine in the Bear Paw Mountains, south of Havre. Sensing his impending death, Pah-nah-to summoned Little Bear and implored him to pursue the acquisition of the Bear Paw Mountains for their people.
According to oral history, Pah-nah-to recognized that Rocky Boy’s band would struggle to survive in Browning due to the lack of farmland and the harsh winters. He believed that the Bear Paw Mountains, sacred to the Cree and reminiscent of a crouching bear, offered a more suitable environment for their people to thrive. The mountains held deep spiritual significance, with Centennial Mountain representing the bear’s head, Square Butte symbolizing the bear’s paw, and Baldy Butte embodying the bear’s heart.
Pah-nah-to’s vision resonated with Little Bear, who shared the belief that the Bear Paw Mountains held the key to their people’s future. In 1912, Little Bear shared Pah-nah-to’s vision with Fred Baker, who was sent by the Indian Office to investigate Montana with a view to a permanent settlement for Rocky Boy’s band and other landless Indians.
The Turning Point: Fort Assiniboine and Congressional Action
The closure of Fort Assiniboine in 1911, a military reservation encompassing 160,000 acres of grassland, mountains, and streams in the Bear Paw Mountains, presented a unique opportunity. Baker recommended that the abandoned military reservation be set aside for the Chippewa and Cree, reasoning that its location away from major population centers would garner support from the citizens of Helena and Great Falls.
However, the proposal faced resistance from the citizens of Havre, who feared the settlement of the Chippewa Cree near their city. William Bole and Frank Linderman traveled to Washington D.C. to counter Havre’s objections, urging Secretary of the Interior Franklin Lane to settle the Chippewa and Cree on the southern mountainous portion of the military reserve.
Their efforts proved successful. In December 1913, Little Bear and Rocky Boy were granted permission to winter camp at Fort Assiniboine in anticipation of making it their permanent home. Still, Congress moved slowly on the issue, prompting Linderman to threaten to take the story of Rocky Boy and Little Bear to easterners if the issue were not addressed.
The Establishment of Rocky Boy’s Reservation
Finally, on February 11, 1915, Secretary Lane ordered a survey of old Ft. Assiniboine and its opening for settlement. On September 7, 1916, an Act of the 64th Congress of the United States designated a tract of land, once part of the abandoned Ft. Assiniboine Military Reserve, as a refuge for the "homeless and wandering Indians." President Woodrow Wilson signed the bill into law, creating what would soon be known as Rocky Boy’s Reservation.
Located south of Havre, the refuge consisted of 56,035 acres, designated as a "permanent home of the Chippewa Cree bands." The same act of Congress set aside 2,000 acres of the old military reserve to the state of Montana for public use and 8,880 acres to the city of Havre for use as a no-fee recreational area for the residents of Chouteau Hill.
While the initial proposal called for four southern townships, totaling 113 sections, the Senate passed the bill with an amendment removing one township containing the lower valley of Beaver Creek to appease Havre officials. As a result, the Chippewa Cree received only land suitable for grazing and practically no tillable land.
They were given three townships instead of the four that were requested, two townships of mountainous low-grade timber, and one township of some grassland and broken bench lands. In later years, more land was added to the reservation, bringing its present size to 107,613 acres (as of 1979). This land became the Rocky Boy’s Reservation.
Early Years: Resilience and Cooperation
For the Chippewa Cree, the establishment of Rocky Boy’s Reservation in 1916 marked a turning point. They no longer had to beg from town to town for sustenance. As soon as they moved onto the land, even before they knew it was officially theirs, they planted potatoes. They filled two root cellars with their harvest and even sent some produce to the State Fair in Helena, where it won prizes.
When Congress established the reservation, an enrollment list of over 600 people was created. The Indian Office allowed 400 to settle on Rocky Boy’s Reservation; how many additional landless Indians resided in the state no one knew.
The first years on the reservation were difficult, marked by limited job opportunities and the need for many to seek work off-reservation. Those who remained tried to cultivate gardens, hunt, pick rocks, and collect bones, wool, tin, and other metals. Rations were provided, including rice, beans, salt pork, flour, sugar, and coffee. However, transporting the rations from the Box Elder train depot proved challenging due to the lack of roads.
Despite the hardships, a spirit of cooperation prevailed. The government furnished seeds for oats, wheat, and barley, and during harvest time, everyone worked together, moving from field to field until all the crops were harvested. They also helped each other put up hay and build houses, with women assisting by chinking the logs and preparing food. Between September 1915 and November 1916, thirty-five cabins were completed, and ten more were almost finished.
Early Leadership and Legacy
Rocky Boy and Little Bear were the accepted leaders of the Chippewa Cree, though Little Bear deferred to Rocky Boy’s leadership after 1904 due to the stigma of Canadian birth. Several elders of the community acted as advisors, including Ke-nah-wash, a spiritual leader known for his powerful voice that could be heard throughout the reservation.
Other councilors included Bucket, Spread Wing, Alexander, and Chief Goes Out. When it came time to name the reservation, these leaders decided to honor Chief Rocky Boy, whose Chippewa name was similar to the Cree Ah-si-niw-i-yi-niw, meaning Stone Indian. Rocky Boy had passed away on April 18, 1916, before the reservation was officially established, but his legacy lived on.
The Rocky Boy’s Reservation stands as a testament to the enduring spirit of the Chippewa and Cree people, a symbol of their unwavering determination to preserve their cultural heritage and create a better future for generations to come.