Cultural Roots
The Kalispel Indians, also known as the "Camas People" to neighboring
tribes, were traditionally semi-nomadic hunters, root gatherers and fishermen.
For hundreds of years the tribe inhabited a region along the Pend Oreille
River in eastern Washington and Pend Oreille Lake in northern Idaho with
a tribal membership of about 3,000. This abundant homeland provided everything
the Kalispels needed to sustain their ancient way of life.
The Kalispels possessed a rich culture derived primarily
from their close relationship with nature, and many aspects
of their culture and life centered around the river. They
used it for commerce and social purposes, built their villages
beside it and established camas root-digging and berry-picking
camps on its floodplains. Along the river, the nutritious,
onion-like camas root grew in abundance and provided a vital
staple for the Kalispel’s diet, and gathering the root
during the summer provided a valued time for families and
friends to come together to nurture their social life as
well. Thus the camas plant has become a symbol of all that
is good about the Kalispel people and their way of life.
Changing Times
In the late 1800s, many non-Indians began settling
in the region, staking claim to much of the land which
had been used by the Kalispels for centuries. Many
tribal members were removed to other reservations far
away, but others stayed in hopes of retaining the tribe’s
ancestral home. In 1914, a small remote reservation
was established along the Pend Oreille River near Usk,
Washington. However the area provided little means
of economic support or access to opportunities to improve
our quality of life. For decades tribal members have
suffered from high unemployment, limited access to
education, inadequate housing and prejudice from nearby
non-Indian communities. As recently as 1965, only two
homes on the reservation had running water.
Building The Dream for a Brighter Future
In the 1970s and 80s, tribal leadership slowly began
to make positive changes for tribal members with the
establishment of a small buffalo herd and attempts
at revenue generating enterprises. In 1992, the tribal
council was able to create a vision statement, which
helped the tribe envision a brighter future for its
people.At the center of this vision was the dream of
helping each tribal member achieve his or her highest
potential. That dream has now become a reality through
the Camas Institute, which opened its doors in January,
2001.
*For more information on Kalispel Culture, see the
booklet The Kalispels: People of the Pend Oreille,
available from the Camas
Institute and from the
Kalispel
Tribe of Indians in Usk, WA.
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