Chippewa Cree facts for kids
| ᐅᒋᐻᐤ ᓀᐃᔭᐤ | |
|---|---|
| Total population | |
| 5,656 enrolled (3,323 per the 2010 census) |
|
| Regions with significant populations | |
 United States ( Montana) |
|
| Languages | |
| English, Cree, Ojibwe | |
| Religion | |
| Catholicism, Methodism, Midewiwin | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Ottawa, Potawatomi and other Algonquian peoples |
The Chippewa Cree Tribe is a Native American tribe officially known as ocipwêw nêiyaw in their native language. They are recognized by the United States government. This tribe lives on the Rocky Boy Reservation in Montana.
The Chippewa Cree people are descendants of two main groups:
- The Cree people, who moved south from Canada.
- The Chippewa (also called Ojibwe) people, who moved west from the Turtle Mountains in North Dakota.
These two groups came together in the late 1800s. Even though they were different, both groups spoke languages from the Algonquian family. The Chippewa Cree Tribe is the southernmost Cree tribe in North America.
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Where the Chippewa Cree Live
The Rocky Boy Indian Reservation is located in northeastern Montana. It is about 40 miles (64 km) from the border with Canada. The reservation covers about 171.4 square miles (443.9 km2) of land. This includes some lands that are held in trust for the tribe outside the main reservation area.
In 2010, about 3,323 people lived on the reservation. However, a report from 2005 stated that 5,656 people were officially enrolled as members of the tribe.
History of the Tribe
The Rocky Boy Indian Reservation was founded by two important leaders:
- Chief Asiniiwin (Chippewa), whose name means "Stone Child." He was sometimes mistakenly called "Rocky Boy."
- Chief Little Bear (Cree).
These chiefs and their groups helped create the reservation in north-central Montana. At that time, many Chippewa-Cree people lived throughout what is now Montana. Some lived on other reservations, and some lived in new towns built by European settlers.
In 1902, Chief Asiniiwin asked President Theodore Roosevelt for a special reservation. He wanted a place where the landless Chippewa-Cree could settle and get an education. A count of the people was done in 1909 to help with this plan.
Over time, some of Asiniiwin's people left the reservation. Others never moved there at all. Their descendants now live in towns across the Pacific Northwest. For example, many bought land near Great Falls, Montana.
The United States Congress officially created the Rocky Boy Indian Reservation on September 7, 1916.
Who Became Members
In 1917, another list of people living on the reservation was made. By then, more Native Americans had moved there, and others had left. Fewer than 45 of the 451 names on the 1917 list were Chippewa from the earlier 1909 count. Many new residents were Cree people, descendants of Little Bear's group. There were also many Métis people. The Métis are mixed-race people from the Red River area, often with both Native American and European ancestors.
According to tribal traditions, if people identified as Cree or Chippewa, they were listed as Native American. This was true even if they had other family backgrounds. The 1917 list was approved in July 1917. It has been used ever since to decide who is a tribal member and how land is shared.
The Cree and Métis people who moved to the reservation were "adopted" into the tribe. This "adopted" status was included in the Chippewa Cree Tribal Constitution. This constitution was written in 1934–1935. It was approved in 1935 under the Indian Reorganization Act. The original constitution said that tribal members who were away from the reservation for 10 years or more would lose their membership.
Recently, the Chippewa Cree Business Committee, which is the tribe's government, changed this rule. They have the power to make decisions about who can be a member. Today, Cree and Métis people make up more than 90% of the tribe's enrolled members.
Languages Spoken
The main language spoken by the tribe is Cree. It is written using a special writing system called Eastern Cree syllabics. The tribe has programs and classes to help teach and preserve the Cree language for younger generations. They also plan to use money from selling official tribal license plates to put up Cree signs in the community. This money will also support other programs to keep the language alive.
Sadly, the Chippewa (Ojibwe) language is in danger. After the death of Duncan Standing Rock Sr. in February 2021, there is only one known living speaker of the language. Standing Rock was very important in recording and documenting the language.
Tribal Economy
The Chippewa Cree Tribe works to create economic opportunities for its members. They have started businesses to help their community grow and thrive.
