Kootenai Tribe of Idaho

Kootenai Tribe of Idaho: Sacred Stewards of the Kootenai River and Leaders in Environmental Restoration

Kootenai Tribe of Idaho

Guardians of the Kootenai River: A Sacred Covenant to Protect Land and Life

The Kootenai Tribe of Idaho, part of a larger Ktunaxa Nation whose ancestral lands span Idaho, Montana, and British Columbia, holds a sacred covenant with the Creator-Spirit to protect the land and all living things. With a deep spiritual and cultural connection to the Kootenai River and its surrounding ecosystem, the Tribe continues to lead efforts in environmental restoration, endangered species recovery, and cultural preservation from their homeland near Bonners Ferry, Idaho. Ancestral lands span parts of what are now Washington, Idaho, Montana, British Columbia and Alberta.

Brief Tribe History

According to oral tradition, the Kootenai people were placed on Earth by Kwiǂqa Nupika, the Creator-Spirit, with a sacred duty to safeguard the land forever. For centuries, they lived in harmony with the landscape, thriving along the Kootenai River and practicing seasonal harvesting, fishing, and cultural traditions.

With the arrival of European settlers and the imposition of new borders, the Kootenai were divided into seven bands spread across the U.S. and Canada. Despite never signing the Treaty with the United States, the Treaty ceded the Kootenai Tribe of Idaho’s lands, but reserving the right to hunt and gather on open and unclaimed land and fish at usual and accustomed fishing places. In 1974, with just 67 members remaining, the Tribe peacefully declared war on the U.S. government—garnering national attention and ultimately securing 12.5 acres of land and federal recognition.

Despite this small footprint, the Kootenai Tribe has never lost sight of its sacred mission to protect the land and restore balance to the environment and their people.

Kootenai Tribe of Idaho two chiefs talking

Key Programs & Partnerships

The Kootenai Tribe of Idaho is widely respected for its leadership in ecosystem restoration. A key focus is the Kootenai River White Sturgeon Recovery Project, a groundbreaking collaboration with state, provincial, federal and Tribal/First Nations to save this endangered species that is central to Ktunaxa identity. The Tribe also manages air and water quality programs, promotes sustainable forestry practices, and leads initiatives to enhance habitat connectivity and reduce solid waste through education and recycling.

Their work is grounded in traditional values and a deep understanding that the health of the ecosystem is inseparable from the health of the people. The Tribe’s Fish and Wildlife and Environmental Departments envisions clean, connected terrestrial and aquatic habitats that support both tribal uses and broader societal needs.

From scientific innovation to cultural protection, the Kootenai Tribe of Idaho continues to honor its ancestral responsibilities—advocating for a future where native fish, wildlife, and traditions thrive once again.