The
Rocky Boy's Indian Reservation is an
Indian reservationAn American Indian reservation is an area of land managed by a Native American tribe under the United States Department of the Interior's Bureau of Indian Affairs...
of the
Chippewa CreeThe Chippewa Cree Tribe is a mixed group of Native Americans in Montana, among the last to come into the state. They are descended from Cree that had come south from Canada, and from Chippewa that had moved west from the Turtle Mountains in North Dakota....
Tribe located in the
U.S. stateA U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of
MontanaMontana is a state in the Western United States. The western third of Montana contains numerous mountain ranges. Smaller, "island ranges" are found in the central third of the state, for a total of 77 named ranges of the Rocky Mountains. This geographical fact is reflected in the state's name,...
. The smallest reservation in the state, it was established by Executive Order on September 7, 1916. The Chippewa Cree Tribe (CCT, governing body) of the Rocky Boy's Indian Reservation was organized in accordance with the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934 (34 Stat. P. 984) as amended by the Act of June 15, 1935. Thus, the Tribe gained federal recognition and is listed as the Chippewa-Cree Indians of the Rocky Boy's Reservation, Montana, in the
Federal RegisterThe Federal Register , abbreviated FR, or sometimes Fed. Reg.) is the official journal of the federal government of the United States that contains most routine publications and public notices of government agencies...
, Vol. 68, No. 234, pp. 68179–68184. The governing document is the Constitution and By-Laws of the Chippewa Cree Tribe of the Rocky Boy's Indian Reservation, Montana enacted in 1935 and amended in 1973.
The
Rocky Boy's Indian Reservation is an
Indian reservationAn American Indian reservation is an area of land managed by a Native American tribe under the United States Department of the Interior's Bureau of Indian Affairs...
of the
Chippewa CreeThe Chippewa Cree Tribe is a mixed group of Native Americans in Montana, among the last to come into the state. They are descended from Cree that had come south from Canada, and from Chippewa that had moved west from the Turtle Mountains in North Dakota....
Tribe located in the
U.S. stateA U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of
MontanaMontana is a state in the Western United States. The western third of Montana contains numerous mountain ranges. Smaller, "island ranges" are found in the central third of the state, for a total of 77 named ranges of the Rocky Mountains. This geographical fact is reflected in the state's name,...
. The smallest reservation in the state, it was established by Executive Order on September 7, 1916. The Chippewa Cree Tribe (CCT, governing body) of the Rocky Boy's Indian Reservation was organized in accordance with the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934 (34 Stat. P. 984) as amended by the Act of June 15, 1935. Thus, the Tribe gained federal recognition and is listed as the Chippewa-Cree Indians of the Rocky Boy's Reservation, Montana, in the
Federal RegisterThe Federal Register , abbreviated FR, or sometimes Fed. Reg.) is the official journal of the federal government of the United States that contains most routine publications and public notices of government agencies...
, Vol. 68, No. 234, pp. 68179–68184. The governing document is the Constitution and By-Laws of the Chippewa Cree Tribe of the Rocky Boy's Indian Reservation, Montana enacted in 1935 and amended in 1973.
Rocky Boy's Indian Reservation is located in
Hill County-National protected areas:*Creedman Coulee National Wildlife Refuge*Lake Thibadeau National Wildlife Refuge-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 16,673 people, 6,457 households, and 4,255 families residing in the county. The population density was 6 people per square mile . There were...
and
Chouteau County-National protected areas:* Lewis and Clark National Forest * Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument -Economy:Chouteau County is the largest winter wheat producer for the state of Montana...
in northern Montana about 40 miles (64 km) from the
CanadianCanada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
border. It has a total land area of 171.4 square miles (443.9 km²), which includes extensive off-reservation trust lands. The population was 3,323 at the
2010 censusThe Twenty-third United States Census, known as Census 2010 or the 2010 Census, is the current national census of the United States. National Census Day was April 1, 2010 and is the reference date used in enumerating individuals...
with, according to the Bureau of Indian Affairs' Labor Force Report of 2005, 5,656 enrolled members. Its largest community is
Box ElderBox Elder is a census-designated place in Chouteau and Hill counties in the U.S. state of Montana. The population was 794 at the 2000 census...
, although a small part of Box Elder extends off reservation land.
Rocky Boy's unusual name came about from a mistranslation of the name of a tribal leader, whose name meant something akin to "Stone Child". The Reservation is governed by the Chippewa Cree Business Committee, which is currently chaired by Chairman Bruce Sunchild, Sr. and vice-chaired by John "Chance" Houle.
Chippewa Cree Business Committee
The Chippewa Cree Business Committee (Tribal Council) is the governing body of the Tribe. The eight (8) Council members and Chairman are elected at large; serving four years on staggered terms. The Tribe elected to 'compact' the
Bureau of Indian AffairsThe Bureau of Indian Affairs is an agency of the federal government of the United States within the US Department of the Interior. It is responsible for the administration and management of of land held in trust by the United States for Native Americans in the United States, Native American...
(FY 93) and
Indian Health ServiceIndian Health Service is an Operating Division within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services . IHS is responsible for providing medical and public health services to members of federally recognized Tribes and Alaska Natives...
(FY 94) programs under Title IV of the P.l. 93-638 Act. The historical Act allowed Tribes the opportunity to determine their priorities and to become truly self-governing and to exercise the inherent tribal sovereignty of the Chippewa Cree tribe.
The current sitting members of the Chippewa Cree Business Committee
- Bruce SunChild, Sr., Interim Chairman
- John "Chance" Houle, Interim Vice-Chairman
- Brian "Kelly" Eagleman, Business Committee Member
- Joseph "Big Joe" LaFromboise, Business Committee Member
- Harlan Baker-Gopher, Business Committee Member
- Gerald Small, Sr., Business Committee Member
- Ted E. Whitford,Sr., Business Committee Member
- Rick Morsette, Business Committee Member
- Vacant, Business Committee Member
On May 23, 2011 former chairman Raymond "Jake" Parker, Jr. resigned as chairman of the Business Committee before pleading guilty in federal court for theft from a tribal organization. Bruce SunChild, Sr. was elected Chairman on July 5, 2011. An election to fill his vacated member seat is scheduled for August 18, 2011.
Economic Conditions
According to the Tribal Chairman’s Address to the Havre Area Chamber of Commerce in January 2007, the annual tribal revenue of $52 million is infused into the local economy as a result of federal programs, private business, and tribal businesses on the Rocky Boy’s Reservation. The majority of reservation residents work for the self-governing Chippewa Cree Tribe. Compacts are maintained with the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) and Indian Health Service. Funds originating within the BIA [note: there is only one BIA employee at Rocky Boy’s due to the self-governance compact], together with tribal government, provides work for (231, full- and part-time) employees. Other employers include: Chippewa Cree Community Development Corporation (25), Rocky Boy public schools (184), Stone Child Community College (57), Chippewa Cree Construction Company (20), Chippewa Cree Construction Corporation (14), National Tribal Development Association (9), Northern Winz Casino (70), RJS & Associates (4), and Chippewa Cree Housing Authority (25). The Tribe’s compact with Indian Health provides opportunities for 135 staff members within the Rocky Boy Health Board.
Northern Winz Casino
The Chippewa Cree tribe operates the Northern Winz Casino. Construction began in May 2006, with the tribal grand opening occurring in February 2007, and a public grand opening March 30, 2007. The casino is located on US Highway 87, 6 miles (10 km) east of Box Elder, Montana.
Religion
The Rocky Boy
Assembly of GodThe Assemblies of God , officially the World Assemblies of God Fellowship, is a group of over 140 autonomous but loosely-associated national groupings of churches which together form the world's largest Pentecostal denomination...
Church is self governing and self-supporting. Eric and Amanda Reed assumed the senior pastor position in Rocky Boy in the Spring of 2006.
The
Evangelical Lutheran Church in AmericaThe Evangelical Lutheran Church in America is a mainline Protestant denomination headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. The ELCA officially came into existence on January 1, 1988, by the merging of three churches. As of December 31, 2009, it had 4,543,037 baptized members, with 2,527,941 of them...
has long maintained a mission at the reservation. The church is known as Our Saviour's Lutheran Church. Toward the end of 1999, Rev. Joseph W. Bailey Sr. along with Christian youth groups from around the country built a new sanctuary, outdoor chapel, and work was begun on a retreat center.
The
Roman Catholic ChurchThe Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
church serving the reservation is St. Mary's Catholic Church with the Rev. Peter Guthneck officiating. He is assisted by Sister Margaret Mary O'Doherty.
The
BaptistBaptists comprise a group of Christian denominations and churches that subscribe to a doctrine that baptism should be performed only for professing believers , and that it must be done by immersion...
mission church was established in late 1999. The church building was erected in June, 2002.
Most of the Chippewa are Christians, but the Chippewa Cree Tribe also has maintained the traditional spiritual beliefs and cultural ceremonies/activities that have been part of the tribal traditions since time immemorial. The traditional Thirst Dance, more commonly known as the Sun Dance, is held the first week of July. The annual Pow-Wow Celebration is held the first week of August. Other cultural events are held throughout the year including the annual Christmas Dance, round dances, ceremonial feasts, revived cultural ceremonies, and cultural camps.
Communities
- Agency
Agency is a census-designated place in Hill County, Montana, United States. The population was 324 at the 2000 census, and 348 according to a 2007 estimate.-Geography:Agency is located at ....
- Azure
Azure is a census-designated place in Hill County, Montana, United States. The population was 253 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Azure is located at ....
- Boneau
Boneau is a census-designated place in Chouteau County, Montana, United States. The population was 190 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Boneau is located at ....
- Box Elder
Box Elder is a census-designated place in Chouteau and Hill counties in the U.S. state of Montana. The population was 794 at the 2000 census...
- Parker School
Parker School is a census-designated place in Chouteau and Hill counties in the U.S. state of Montana. The population was 352 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Parker School is located at ....
- Saint Pierre
St. Pierre is a census-designated place in Hill County, Montana, United States. The population was 289 at the 2000 census.-Geography:St...
- Sangrey
Sangrey is a census-designated place in Hill County, Montana, United States. The population was 263 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Sangrey is located at ....
See also
- Fort Assiniboine
Fort Assiniboine is a hamlet in northwest Alberta, Canada, within Woodlands County. It is located along the north shore of the Athabasca River at the junction of Highway 33 and Highway 661...
- List of Indian reservations in the United States
- Rocky Boy High School
- Bear Paw Ski Bowl
Bear Paw Ski Bowl is a small ski area which draws visitors primarily from Havre, Montana and the nearby Rocky Boys Indian Reservation located on the Chippewa Cree Recreation Area in north central Montana, along the Hi-Line.-External links:*...
External links