Salish and Kootenai of the Flathead Nation
The Kootenai originally held territory in Washington, Idaho, Canada, and the western corridor of the Rocky Mountains. They were hunters, fisherman and gatherers and grew tobacco. They lived in lodges covered with skins or mats and sometimes built a longhouse for communal gatherings. In the late 1800's some members of the Fish Trap Band of the Kootenai moved to the Flathead reservation in Montana.
The Salish were originally bands of several families led by a chief and his assistant. They lived by hunting and fishing. The Salish did not farm, but rather gathered wild vegetables and berries. They lived in either long sunken lodges or cone-shaped dwellings covered with mats. A group of the Salish migrated from British Columbia to western Montana around 1600.
About the Flag:
The flag depicts the natural resources of the reservation, along with the buffalo and tipi. Over 18,000 acres on the Flathead reservation comprise the National Bison Range, established in 1908. Behind the tipi is the blue outline of Flathead Lake. The mountain outline represent the Mission range, which borders the eastern side of the reservation. The tipi, bow, arrow, shield, and eagle feathers are chosen because of their historical importance to the tribe.
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