Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians of Montana is a federally-recognized tribe of Ojibwe people in Montana. Due to conflicts with federal authorities in the 19th century, the Little Shell Chippewa Tribe went without an Indian reservation for most of its history. Members live in various parts of Montana and elect a government of a chairman and Tribal Council according to their constitution. Others live in Great Falls, Havre, Lewistown, Helena, Butte, Chinook, Hays, Wolf Point, Hamilton, Billings, and elsewhere in Montana.
About Little Shell Chippewa
This band of the Chippewa tribe is without a designated reservation in Montana. There are over 4,000 enrolled members within the state, many of which live in the Great Falls and surrounding area.
Annual Events
August
Little Shell Elders & Veterans Pow Wow – Last weekend in August | Great Falls, Mount Royal
The People
Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa has been state recognized in Montana. The National Defense Authorization Act, which was signed into law on December 20, 2019, granted the Tribe Federal recognition.
The Little Shell Band of Chippewa Indians are part of the historical Pembina Band of Chippewa Indians, first recorded by European settlers in documents of the Hudson’s Bay Company, Fort Garry in the early 18th century. These logs and diaries show the Ojibwa held approximately 63 million acres of land throughout what is now South Dakota, North Dakota and Canada. By the early 19th century, many French Canadian men, mostly fur trappers, had married into Ojibwe families.
The Pembina Band entered into a treaty with the United States in the 1863 Treaty of Old Crossing, together with the Red Lake Band of Chippewa. In the 1892 McCumber Agreement between the Turtle Mountain Indians and the Commission, the Turtle Mountain Indian Reservation was established, but the Little Shell Band of Chippewa Indians refused settlement there. Some of the Little Shell Band members did eventually settle on the Turtle Mountain Indian Reservation. Others migrated north and west into Saskatchewan and Alberta, and then later made their way back south into Montana.
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Little Shell Tribal Council
The Executive Board consists of the President, Vice-President, Second Vice-President, Secretary-Treasurer, and all Area Council members. The Executive Committee consists of five (5) Council Members. Elections are held every two years for each Council member and every four years for the Executive officers
511 Central Ave. W, Great Falls, MT 59404
Phone: 406.315.2400
Little Shell Culture
Learn more about the culture of Little Shell Chippewa by exploring this collection of teachings, lessons, and more.
Little Shell Government
Learn more about the government that makes up the Little Shell Chippewa tribal council.
