CHIPPEWA CREE TRIBE

COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENTAL PROFILE

CHIPPEWA CREE TRIBAL GOVERNMENT:

The United States Government as defined by the United States Constitution has governmental relationships with International, Tribal, and State entities. The Tribal nations have a government-to-government relationship with the United States. The Chippewa Cree Tribes signed treaties in the 1800's with the United States which are the legal documents defining the relationship with the United States that established the original Tribal boundaries and recognized our rights as a sovereign government.

The Chippewa Cree Reservation was established by executive order of the President in 1916. The Tribal governments maintain jurisdiction within the boundaries of the reservation including all rights-of-way, waterways, watercourses and streams running through any part of the reservation and to such others lands as may hereafter be added to the reservation under the laws of the United States. The Tribal government operates under a constitution consistent with the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934 and approved by the Tribal membership. The administration of Tribal government is conducted by the Chippewa Cree Business Committee. The Business Committee consists of a Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Secretary/Treasurer, and six additional Council members which are elected by the Tribal membership.

The Tribal Council Chairman is the administrative head of the Tribe and serves a two year term. All of the Tribal Council are elected at large.

LAND:

The Chippewa Cree Reservation is located in north-central Montana. This includes areas in Choteau, Hill, and Liberty counties. The Rocky Boy Reservation encompasses 203,015 acres in Hill and Choteau counties of north-central Montana an is occupied by members of the Chippewa-Cree Indian Tribes.

The Rocky Boys Reservation lies in north-central Montana near the Bear Paw Mountains. The smallest of all the Montana reservations, it is home for many of the 4,714 enrolled members of the Chippewa-Cree Tribe. The 107,613 acres of the reservation is near the Canadian border and near the Missouri River on its southern edge. Rocky Boy lies partially in the Bear Paw Mountains, while the remainder of the reservation is made up of plains or foothills. The bulk of the reservation is situated in the Bear Paw Mountains, the area also includes rolling foothills and flat farmlands.

Rocky Boy Agency is located 14 miles southeast of Box Elder, between Havre and Great Falls on U.S. Highway 87, It is the Tribal seat of government on the reservation. The Tribal Building, BIA, Tribal Health Center, elementary school, high school, service station, day care center, Housing Office, Parker Youth Center, and Stone Child College are located here.

HISTORY:

The reservation, part of the old Fort Assiniboine Military Reserve, is the smallest in Montana and was established by executive order in 1916. Chief Rocky Boy (Chippewa) and Little Bear (Cree) were instrumental in getting the reservation set aside for their people.

CLIMATE:

The springs and summers on the Rocky Boy Reservation are fairly mild with an average rainfall of about 8 inches, and a temperature that is rarely greater than 100^oF. The winters are cold and the temperature occasionally drops to -40^oF. However, there are frequent mild Chinook winds.

TRANSPORTATION:

The reservation is served primarily by Highway 37 and other BIA/Tribal roads connecting the communities.

TRIBAL ECONOMY:

Most of the people living on the reservation work for the schools, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Indian Health Service and the tribal government. Some are also employed as farmers and ranchers. In an effort to improve their economy, the Tribe has developed a ski area in the Bear Paw Mountains, a grain cooperative, and post and pole production.

The communities that lie in the reservation, Rocky Boys Agency and Box Elder, are quite tiny and limited for services. About half an hours drive north of the reservation is the off-reservation town of Havre where one can find modern shopping conveniences, retail stores, chain supermarkets gas stations and so on.

RECREATION:

The Baldy Butte Ski Resort is a favorite downhill ski retreat in the winter. Hunting and fishing are excellent in the area, as are camping, hiking, backpacking and just plain exploring. Many deer, elk, and antelope inhabit the area, as well as the tribally-owned herd of buffalo.

EDUCATION:

Headstart and grades K-12 are available in the Rocky Boys school system are also available in both Box Elder and the off-reservation city of Havre. The Stone Child Community College at the Rocky Boys Agency offers post-high school studies and associate degrees. Another option for those who choose to further their education is Montana State University - Northern in Havre.

COMMUNITY SERVICES:

Havre also has quite comfortable and affordable housing, a modern hospital, churches, schools and a library.

HOUSING:

The Rocky Boy Housing Authority manages units in the communities and on rural scattered sites through HUD Low Rent and Mutual Help home ownership housing programs. Other housing is available through the Bureau of Indian Affairs and Indian Health Service for their employees. Private housing stock is limited.

The principal communities on the reservation are as follows:

BOX ELDER - This community is named after the creek which flows through it and is located approximately 14 miles west of the Agency and is the closest settlement. It consists of a general store, a service station, post office, and school K-12. The town is on U.S. Highway 87, 87 miles from Great Falls, and 20 miles from Havre, Montana. The Bonneau Dam is the prominent topographical feature of the community, as well as a good spot for trout bed pike fishing. Although the creek bottom is fairly wide in most places , very little of it is cleared. Agriculture is currently limited to gardening and hay production on a small scale. Future plans call for cleaning more of the creek bottom so that it may be used for a Christmas tree enterprise and/or the raising of forage crops. At present, most of the community members are wage eamers. Approximately 662 Indian people reside here.

DUCK CREEK - This community begins on the western outskirts of the Agency and is situated along several miles of the creek for which it is named. It is the gateway to the fishing here. Most residents gain a livelihood from ranching and within the community which has a common water system, recently connected to the main water system for the reservation. Approximately 223 Indian people reside here.

HAYSTACK - Situated around the prominent Haystack Butte (elevation 4,768 feet) and is one of the largest communities on the reservation. It begins about 2 miles east of the Agency and extends northward for several miles. Most of the community is situated in the grassy foothills of the mountains in the northeastern portion of the reservation. It's residents are ranchers and/or wage earners at the Agency. Approximately 688 Indian people reside here.

 

FUTURE:

The Chippewa Cree Tribe desires to continue progress in providing for the Tribal membership and the development of increased self-sufficiency. There are plans underway to develop natural and cultural resources to preserve traditions and educate Tribal members and non-members, and strengthen the economy on the reservation. The Nation will continue to search for ways to maintain our culture and develop new economic opportunities for our future generations.

Environmental Problem Statement: In 1997, Tribal environmental staff identified insufficient groundwater and surface water supplies to meet the Tribes stated goals as the major reservation water problem.