Also known as the Hohe or the Nakota (Nakoda, Nakona), the Assiniboine are a First Nations and Native American people who originally inhabited the Northern Great Plains of North America.
Today, they are found mostly in Saskatchewan, parts of Alberta, southwestern Manitoba, northern Montana, and western North Dakota.
Assinoboine tribes in Saskatchewan include the Carry the Kettle Nakoda First Nation, the Mosquito, Grizzly Bear's Head, Lean Man First Nations, the White Bear First Nation, the Ocean Man First Nation, and the Pheasant Rump Nakota First Nation. In Montana, nearly 12,000 Hudesabina, Wadopabina, Wadopahnatonwan, Sahlyalyeskabi, Inyantonwanbina, and Fat Horse Band of the Assiniboine share the Fort Peck Indian Reservation with the Sisseton, Wahpeton, Yanktonal, and Hunkpapa Sioux. About 5,426 enrolled Assiniboine and Gros Ventre reside on the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation. Additionally, many Assiniboine live jointly with other tribes, such as the Plains Cree, Saulteaux, Sioux, and Gros Ventre, in several reservations in Canada and the United States. In Manitoba, the Assiniboine live as individuals, holding no communal reserves.
While residing in their traditional homelands in the Plains region, around the time of European contact, the Assiniboine were bison hunters and fur traders, who controlled large territories in what are now parts of Manitoba and Saskatchewan, as well as the region north of the Milk and Missouri rivers in the United States.
Jesuit missionaries described the Assiniboine as having recently split from the Yanktonai Sioux, also known as the Nakota, sometime before 1640. The Assiniboine are believed to be closely related to other Sioux peoples, such as the Dakota, Lakota, and Stoney-Nakoda. At times, they have lived among the Cree and shared hunting techniques with the Cree and Blackfoot; the Assiniboine have always considered themselves to be culturally distinct.
Members of the Lewis and Clark expedition encountered a group of Assiniboine in North Dakota, but they were in North Dakota on an annual trading festival, and normally occupied the area of northeastern Montana and parts of Canada.
While living in the Plains region, they were known for building bison pounds, which are paddocks used to trap and kill bison. They used dogs to haul travois loaded with tipi poles, hides, and personal possessions while following the bison herds.
The Assiniboine living in the forests hunted deer, elk, and moose, and snared beaver and other fur-bearing animals for food and hides, which were used for clothing and trade.
Traditionally, Assiniboine social and political structures were based on an extended family system. Men held the positions of leadership, and a chief was chosen to deal with other tribes and outsiders, although his actions were guided by a council made up of representatives from the various family groups that formed a band. In times of war, a war chief would be chosen, and a hunting chief might be selected to lead large-scale bison hunts.
Through the 19th century, the Assiniboine were closely allied with the Crees, and often in conflict with the Blackfoot, the Gros Ventres, and other Sioux tribes in the southern Plains region.
With the near extinction of bison, the Assiniboine consented to live on reserve lands in Canada and the United States, although the results of these treaties were not favorable to the Assiniboine, who suffered from poor housing, poor health, high unemployment, discrimination, government restrictions on religious ceremonies, and forced assimilation of their young in residential schools.
By the mid-20th century, conditions improved somewhat on both sides of the international border, with Assiniboine First Nations and American Indian tribes exercising various degrees of self-government.
Topics related to the Assiniboine are the focus of this portion of our web guide. Tribal governments, reserves or reservations on either side of the border, tribal industries, businesses, or organizations are appropriate for this category, as are informational sites concentrated on the Assiniboine.
Recommended Resources
Previously named Fort Belknap College, ANC is a public tribal land-grant community college on the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation in Harlem, Montana. Established in 1984, the institution incorporates native culture into its curriculum, although admission is open to both tribal and non-tribal members. ANC offers associate degrees in eleven disciplines and vocational training in five others through its Native American Career and Technical Education Program. Online registration is available.
https://ancollege.edu/
Located in north-central Montana, the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation is shared by two Native American tribes: the Aaniiih (A'aninin, Gros Ventre) and the Nakoda (Assiniboine). Its area includes the main portion of its homeland and off-reservation trust land, the capital and largest community being Fort Belknap Agency. Created by an Act of Congress in 1888, the Fort Belknap Agency was established at its present location. Its council, departments, and history are featured.
https://ftbelknap.org/
Fort Peck Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes
The Fort Peck Indian Reservation is home to several federally recognized bands of Assiniboine, Lakota, and Dakota peoples. Its 2,094,000 acres are spread across Roosevelt, Valley, Daniels, and Sheridan counties in Montana, its largest community being the City of Wolf Point. An introduction to the Reservation is provided, along with its individual tribes, government, constitution, and executive board. Visitor opportunities, economic development, and special occasions are highlighted.
https://fortpecktribes.org/
Established in Poplar, Montana, the Fort Peck Tribal Court is a legal institution that exercises jurisdiction over all offenses committed by an Indian within the boundaries of the Fort Peck Indian Reservation. It also holds jurisdiction over actions where a party is an Indian or a corporation or entity owned in whole or substantial part by an Indian. Its judges are introduced, and contacts for the court, the prosecutor's office, the public defender's office, and the administration are put forth.
https://fptc.org/
Mosquito, Grizzly Bear's Head, Lean Man First Nations
The Assiniboine First Nation is in Saskatchewan, Canada, and is named for the three Assiniboine tribes that settled there. The Reserve is about 50,000 acres, and there are about 1,000 members, with only about 300 living on the Reserve. An introduction to each of the individual tribes is provided, along with a history of the Reserve, an overview of its governance, services, community planning, sports and recreation, tribal corporations, and employment opportunities.
https://mosquitofn.ca/
Situated on the Ocean Man First Nation Reserve in Stoughton, Saskatchewan, Canada, Ocean Man Education Centre is a recognized Grade 12 school operating under the jurisdiction of the Yorkton Tribal Council and accredited by the Saskatchewan Ministry of Education. Its teachers are introduced, a photo gallery and videos produced by students, online courses for GSCS distance learning students, and contacts are provided. Links to language videos on its YouTube channel are included.
https://oceanmanschool.com/
The Pheasant Rump Nakota Nation is a First Nation group in Saskatchewan, Canada. Residing on the Pheasant Rump Nakota 68 reserve near Kisbey, the Nakota (Nakoda) are descendants of individual bands of Assiniboine, from which they spun out as an independent group around 1744. The two main bands are the Wood Stoney, often called the Swampy Ground Assiniboine, and the Mountain Stoney (Strong Woos Assiniboine), both of which are further divided into several bands.
https://pheasantrumpnakota.com/
Named for its Chief at the time of Treat 4 in 1875, Chief Wahplimusqua (White Bear), although the chief ultimately settled next to Moose Mountain Provincial Park with his band, which is in the Treaty 2 area. The White Bear First Nation is an Assiniboine First Nation in southeastern Saskatchewan, Canada. Its reserves include White Bear 70 and Treaty Four Reserve Grounds 77. Its governance, council, programs, services, and tourism opportunities are outlined.
https://whitebearfirstnation.ca/
