Kootenai << KOO tuh nay >> , also spelled Kutenai or Kootenay, are a native people in southeastern British Columbia, northwestern Montana, and northern Idaho. In Canada, they are recognized as a First Nations people. In Montana, they are one of three tribes united in the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes of Flathead Nation.
Historically, the Kootenai lived near lakes or rivers, with many living between the Rocky Mountains and the Cascade Mountains. They had many customs similar to those of neighboring Plains people. Small bands, each made up of a few families, lived by hunting, fishing, and collecting wild plants. They built shelters of animal skins and reeds and traveled in bark canoes. Shamans (medicine men and women) held great power and leadership within the society. By the 1800’s, many Kootenai had taken up farming, lumbering, and cattle ranching. Most Kootenai today live on reservations in Montana, Idaho, and British Columbia.
