Also known as Ktunaxa, Kootenai, or Kootenay, the Kutanai people are American Indian and First Nations people in northern Idaho, western Montana, and southeastern British Columbia.
In the United States, there are two federally recognized tribes: the Kootenai Tribe of Idaho and the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes in Montana, the latter of which also includes members of the Bitterroot Salish and Kalispel (Pend d'Oreilles) tribes. In Canada, the Ktunaxa Nation includes four bands: the Akisqnuk First Nation (an Upper Kutenai group), the Lower Kootenay Band (a Lower Kutenai group), St. Mary's First Nation (an Upper Kutenai Group), and the Tobacco Plains Indian Band (an Upper Kutenai group). The Shuswap Indian Band was formerly part of the Ktunaxa Nation in Canada. A Shuswap band, they settled in Kutenai territory in the mid-19th century and were incorporated into the group, intermarrying with the Kutenai and speaking the Kutenai language. However, they left the Ktunaxa Nation in 2004 to become part of the Shuswap Nation Tribal Council.
The Kutenai are loosely divided into two groups: the Upper Kutenai and the Lower Kutenai, a reference to the different sections of the Kootenay River, where the bands live. It is known as the Kootenai River in the United States. The Lower Kutenai are the Lower Kootenay First Nation of British Columbia and the Kootenai Tribe of Idaho.
It is suggested that the Kutanai originally inhabited the prairies, and were driven across the Rocky Mountains by the Blackfoot. Some Upper Kutanai continued to cross the Rockies to hunt bison. They were well known to the Blackfoot, and relations between the two tribes were not good. Some Kutenai either remained on the prairies or returned to the prairies throughout the year, as they had a settlement near Fort Macleod in Alberta, but their numbers declined sharply, either due to conflicts or disease, and these Plains Kutenai returned to the Kootenay region of British Columbia.
There is an oral tradition among some of the Kutenai that their ancestors came originally from the Great Lakes region of Michigan, but this has not been substantiated.
The Kutenai language is unrelated to any other known language. In their own language, the Kutenai are known as the Ksanka or Ktunaxa. In British Columbia, they might use Upnuckanick
The early Kutenai depended a great deal on fishing, using fish traps and hooks, and traveling the waterways in sturgeon-nosed canoes. Also known as Kootenay Canoes, they were a distinctive style used by the Sinixt, Kutenai, and Kalispel First Nations in the interior of British Columbia and the Pacific Northwest.
The Lower Kutenai had seasonal hunts for bears, deer, caribou, gophers, and various waterfowl, while the Upper Kutenai focused more on bison hunts.
The social life of the early Kutenai involved a detailed ritual calendar. Young men participated in vision quests as a passage to adulthood, tobacco was used ritually, and they practiced the Sun Dance, the Grizzly Bear Dance, a Blue Jay Dance, a midwinter festival, and other social and ceremonial activities throughout the year.
Kutenai men might join various societies or lodges, such as the Crazy Dog Society, the Crazy Owl Society, and the Shamans' Society, each of which carried obligations in battle, hunting, and the community.
The Kutenai were exposed to Christianity in the 1700s. Shining Shirt, a Lower Kutenai prophet, spread the news about the coming of the French Jesuit missionaries, and the Kutenai people also encountered other tribes whose members had been converted to Christianity. By the 1830s, elements of Christianity were blended into the Kutenai traditional religion.
However, unlike several other American Indian and First Nations tribes, Kutenai's contacts with Christian missionaries and French fur traders were limited. Among the Upper Kutenai, there were some conflicts with European settlers over land issues, but relations were relatively peaceful. Conditions were considerably more strained for the Lower Kutenai, but there were no major conflicts.
On September 20, 1974, a Kootenai tribe in Idaho declared war on the United States government. Their first act was to post tribal members on each end of U.S. Highway 95 to extract a toll from motorists driving through what had been the tribe's native land. Most tribes are forbidden from declaring war on the U.S. government due to treaties, but the Kootenai Tribe had never signed a treaty. There were no incidents of violence, and the U.S. government made a land grant of 12.5 acres, which formed the basis of what is now the Kootenai Reservation. In 1976, the tribe issued "Kootenai Nation War Bonds" that sold for $1.00 apiece. The bonds were dated September 20, 1974, and included a brief declaration of war on the United States.
The Kutenai people or tribes are the focus of this portion of our web guide.
Recommended Resources
First visited by the Ktunaxa First Nations people, who embraced the nupika wu’u, or spirit water, for its healing and rejuvenating powers. Owned by Yaqan Nukiy, the Lower Kootenay Band of Creston, British Columbia, Ainsworth Hot Springs has welcomed guests since the 1930s. The history of the springs is told, along with an overview of the springs, rates, accommodations, dining, tour opportunities, gift certificates, employment opportunities, and contacts.
https://www.ainsworthhotsprings.com/
Akisqnuk (Ɂakisq̓nuk) First Nation
Previously known as the Columbia Lake First Nation, the Ktunaxa First Nation band is in the Kootenays district of British Columbia. They are part of the Ktunaxa Nation Council by the terms of the British Columbia Treaty Process and connected to other Kootenay communities through its unique Ktunaxa language. Its history, culture, and instructions for applying for Indian status are set forth, and an introduction to the current chief and council is included. Member services are noted.
https://akisqnuk.org/
Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribes
The Confederated Salish (Séliš u Ql̓ispé) and Kootenai (k̓upawiȼq̓nuk) Tribes of the Flathead Reservation are a federally recognized tribe in Montana. The tribal government includes members of the Bitterroot Salish, Kutenai, and Kalispel (Pend d'Oreilles) tribes. The tribal government is introduced, including council members, council agendas and minutes, and annual reports, as well as tribal services, contacts, and employment opportunities. Enrollment eligibility is covered on the site.
https://csktribes.org/
ʔaq̓am is a band council and member community of the Ktunaxa Nation, and situated within the traditional territory of the Ktunaxa Nation. Its community council consists of a chief and four councilors, all determined through Band elections. Its governmental structure, chief, council, administrative staff, and a community strategic plan are set forth, along with community services, housing, operations management services, land, and natural resources. Contacts are posted.
https://www.aqam.net/
The Best Western Plus Kootenai River Inn Casino and Spa is owned and operated by the Kootenai Tribe of Idaho. The hotel features 65 guest rooms, with private balconies, as well as 36 larger rooms in its Kootenai Falls Lodge expansion. Photos, amenities, and online bookings are available. The casino offers more than 400 different games in smoking and non-smoking casino rooms, meeting and banquet facilities, an on-site restaurant, a deli, and a spa. Special offers and promotions are highlighted.
https://www.kootenairiverinn.com/
The Kootenai Tribe of Idaho (ʔaq̓anqmi) is a federally recognized tribe of Kutenai people headquartered in Bonners Ferry, Idaho. Originally established in 1896, after considerable land loss, the reservation was reestablished in 1974, and currently 2,200 acres. Current members are descendants of the Kutenai people whose homelands were along the Kootenai River in Idaho, Montana, and British Columbia. The tribal history, governmental structure, services, enterprises, and contacts are posted.
https://www.kootenai.org/
Designed as an online engagement space for Ktunaxa, registered members can learn about and contribute to engagement opportunities, such as surveys, stories, and forums, and be updated on the projects that matter the most to each. Most engagement projects are open to Ktunaxa contributors only, while the sections are available for viewing to everyone. Includes are language resources, a video library, research projects and requests, and a tribal newspaper, along with several others.
https://ktunaxahakqyit.org/
Ktunaxa Kinbasket Child & Family Service Society
KKCFSS is a non-profit Delegated Aboriginal Agency governed by the Ktunaxa Nation Council. Its services are available to Ktunaxa citizens, First Nations, Métis, and Inuit living on and off-reservation in the Ktunaxa Traditional Territory. Its programs include intake and child protection, guardianship and family services, kinship and residential care, family support services, prevention and early intervention, early years programs, and aboriginal youth services.
https://kkcfss.org/
The Ktunaxa Nation is a First Nations tribal government of four Kutenai bands in southeastern British Columbia. The Nation also includes descendants of a Shuswap band who had become members, although most of its Shuswap members had formed the Shuswap Indian Band, now part of the Shuswap Nation. Member nations are featured here, with links to the separate websites of each. The Nation's governmental structure, its departments, services, programs, and career opportunities.
https://www.ktunaxa.org/
Lower Kootenay Band (Yaqan Nukiy)
Based in the East Kootenay region of British Columbia, the Yaqan Nukiy First Nation is part of the Ktunaxa Nation in the British Columbia Treaty Process. Its government consists of one elected chief and four elected councilors. The chief, council, and administrators are introduced, with contacts, and the history of the Yaqan Nukiy is provided. Other resources include photo galleries, scheduled events, news, job opportunities, meeting minutes, audits, and other reports.
https://lowerkootenay.com/
