About the Fort Peck Reservation
The Fort Peck Reservation is home to two separate American Indian nations, each composed of numerous bands and divisions. The Sioux (Dakota) divisions of Sisseton, Wahpetons, the Yanktonais, and the Teton Hunkpapa are all represented. The Assiniboine bands (Nakoda) of Canoe Paddler and Red Bottom are represented.
The Reservation is located in the extreme northeast corner of Montana, on the north side of the Missouri River. The new Fort Peck Indian Agency was established in 1871 to serve the Assiniboine and Sioux Indians. The Agency was located wi thin the old stockade of Fort Peck, purchased from traders Durfee and Peck.
The Reservation is 110 miles long and 40 miles wide, encompassing 2,093,318 acres (approximately 3,200 square miles). Of this, approximately 378,000 acres are tribally owned and 548,000 acres are individually allotted Indian lands. The total of Indian owned lands is about 926,000 acres.
There are an estimated 10,000 enrolled tribal members, of whom approximately 6,000 reside on or near the Reservation. The population density is greatest along the southern border of the Reservation near the Missouri River and the major transportation routes, U.S. Highway 2 and the Amtrak routing on the tracks of the Burlington Northern Railroad.
About the Dakota & Nakoda People
The Fort Peck Reservation is home to two distinct American Indian nations—the Assiniboine (Nakoda) and Sioux (Dakota). Each is composed of subordinate bands. The Canoe Paddler and Red Bottom bands comprise the Assiniboine. The Hunkpapa, Sisseton, Wahpeton and Yankton groups constitute the Sioux.
Also, historically enacted Federal Homestead legislation since allowed for Non-Indian homesteading and settlement within the Fort Peck Reservation. Today, both Native American and Non-Indians reside in harmony on the Reservation. Although each has separate governance, they regularly transact to identify, discuss and resolve common needs.
The Buffalo Treaty
The Fort Peck Tribes are signatories of the The Buffalo Treaty—an agreement between various Tribal nations to honor, recognize, and revitalize the time immemorial relationship we have with buffalo.
