Welcome to Montana's Indian Reservations

Montana's Indian reservations are rich strongholds of Native American heritage. They are places where Indian culture can be experienced in sacred landscapes and at annual gatherings - where traditional dress is worn and rituals are performed as they have been for hundreds of years. Remarkable art and crafts reflect a unique connection between Montana Indians and the natural world.

There are seven reservations in Montana, representing eleven tribes. Each features a wealth of cultural institutions such as the Museum of the Plains Indian in Browning, the Plenty Coups Memorial Museum in Lame Deer, and the Fort Peck Assiniboine and Sioux Cultural Center and Museum in Poplar.

Special events on each reservation provide insight into traditional Indian culture. The Crow Fair Powwow, Rodeo and Race Meet is the largest Indian celebration in Montana. Other events in the state include the Flathead Fourth of July Celebration, the Fort Belknap Mid-Winter Fair at the Fort Belknap Agency, and Rocky Boy's Annual Powwow.

Historic sites abound on all seven reservations. At the National Bison Range, on the Flathead Reservation, buffalo roam a 20,000-acre national wildlife refuge. The Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument, on the Crow Reservation, commemorates the site of the Indian victory over Custer's Seventh Calvary. The Assiniboine Village in Wolf Point re-creates a traditional Indian village where visitors are invited to experience the Assiniboine culture.

While Montana's Indians have worked hard to adapt to the changing world around them, they have kept the rich culture and traditions of their past. This heritage contributes immeasurably to the cultural flavor of Montana.

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