June 1895 – June 1895

Blackfeet Agreement of 1895

In 1895, the Blackfeet Indigenous Tribe sold the western part of their land to the United State Government for 1.5 Million dollars. This is the land we now know today as Glacier National Park. In addition to monetary settlement the Blackfeet were also supposed to be able to hunt, fish and cut down timber for domestic purposes to sustain their tribe. This part of the agreement was no longer honored by the US government when the park was established in 1910, as the land was no longer considered public. This was a huge blow to the success of the tribe, and still deeply effects them today. Since the creation of the park the Blackfeet have made numerous claims to the Government asking for the rights to hunt and fish on the land that is theirs. To date, the only change that has been made is that Indigenous peoples do not need to pay to enter the park.

Western Glacier National Park

indiancountrytoday.com

Kate Osterholtz