Fort Peck Essay

Intercultural Mission Service
Research Project
Oct 4th, 2013

The Fort Peck Indian Reservation was established in 1871 to serve the Assiniboine and Sioux tribes. Attempts were made by the U.S government to take the Black Hills and join the Sioux to agencies along the Missouri in the 1860s. This resulted in warfare. Some of the Sioux agreed to do what the U.S government wanted, but others chose not to comply, therefore, causing military efforts to bring in the other Sioux, who they referred to as “hostiles.” This led to the Battle of the Little Bighorn in 1876. Sitting Bull led followers to different places as the pressure from the military increased but eventually Sitting Bull surrendered on July 19th 1881. In the 1880’s, there was much suffering due to lack of medical attention, short food supply and harsh winters. Over 300 Assiniboines died of starvation at the Wolf Point sub-agency. As non-Indians began to inhibit the boundary areas of the reservation, they saw the prime gazing and farmland. It drew a lot of attention and pressure was put on the government to open Fort Peck Reservation to homesteading. The Free dictionary states, “A home stead is a person's or family's residence, which comprises the land, house, and outbuildings, and in most states is exempt from forced sale for collection of debt.” On May 30th 1908, the Congressional Act, which is commonly known as the Fort Peck Allotment Act, was passed. Each Indian was to receive 320 acres of grazing land in addition to some timber and irrigable land. There was also some land held for schools churches and other community buildings. Now that some of the history is known, we are able to get into the culture and what it is like at the Fort Peck Reservation today. The reservation is located in the extreme northeast corner of Montana; on the north side of the Missouri River. Wolf Point is the largest town on the reservation with approximately 2,949 Indian people residing there. The Chief Redstone IHS Health Center, Faith Lutheran Home, and Trinity Hospital are located there. Poplar is the second largest town and approximately 3,698 Indian people live there. The headquarters for the Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes, the Fort Peck Indian Agency, the Verne E. Gibbs IHS Health Center, Poplar Community Hospital and Nursing Home are located there. Brockton, Fraser, Oswego, and Fort Kipp are the smaller towns within the reservation. There are 472 Indian people in Brockton, 562 in Frazer, 71 in Oswego and 204 in Fort Kipp. Some cultural/recreational activities include fishing in Northeastern Montana, Missouri River and Fort Peck Reservoir, which is the largest hydraulic earth-filled dam in the world. They term “Fishing for Dinosoars” as fishing for prehistoric fish in the Missouri and Yellowstone Rivers. They also hunt for elf, mule deer, white tail deer, antelope and sheep during general season hunting. They may even come into contact with coyotes, badgers, bobcats and mountain lions. They also have recreational sports for all ages. These sports include baseball, soccer, football, wrestling, volleyball, softball, basketball, golf, racquetball, horseback riding, bowling, rodeo, camping, tennis, waterskiing, boating and swimming. For demographics The U.S Census Bureau stated that:
As of the census of 2010, …The population density was 270.9 inhabitants per square mile (104.6 /km2). There were 110 housing units at an average density of 127.9 per square mile…[ 3.0% are Native American]… There were 99 households of which 22.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 68.7% were married couples living together, 2.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.0% had a male householder with no wife present, and 26.3% were non-families. 21.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.74. The median age in the town was

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