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Kootenai Tribe Declares War Against the US in 1974
BY JACK MCNEEL
It’s now been 45 years since “The War.” I
still remember it well as do many older residents
of northern Idaho and particularly Boundary
County. It’s probably a new story for most
newcomers and a story that needs retelling.
The Kootenai Tribe of Idaho, with a total
population of only about 65 members, declared
war against the United States in 1974. It was
the last time any tribe in the nation made such
a bold announcement. Surprisingly, it turned
out to be very successful for the tribe.
Prior to that time, the Kootenai Tribe was
existing in disastrous conditions, which called
for extreme action. The tribe owned no land.
Many houses were dilapidated to the point
that winds flowed through the cracks. It was
almost like living outside.
Some elders died of exposure. The tribe
had been given nothing by the U.S. govern-
ment, not even any land to claim as their own,
despite having lived here, along the Kootenai
River, for many generations.
Gary Aitkin, Jr. was a youngster at the time
and now serves as the Tribal Chairman. His
grandmother, Amy Trice, was chairwoman for
the tribe and the principal person in devising
this war as a way of improving conditions for
all the tribal members.
As Aitkin commented, “They needed to
do something. It was a big cry for attention,
to say ‘look at our plight.” The money or
resources weren’t available to respond to
government requests, and they couldn’t wait
any longer for help. So they declared war
against the U.S.
The tribe had no intention of starting a
shooting war. It was to be a peaceful war, to
provide tribal members with the requirements
needed to keep them alive, essentially food
and heat. Tribal members realized it could
backfire on them and take some lives.
“It was intended to be a war of the pen,
but a lot of tribal members sent their families
away because they were afraid for their well
being,” Aitkin remembered.
Signs were erected around the little com-
munity, charging 10 cents to enter.
Results were positive. No shots were ever
fired. President Ford gave the tribe 12.5 acres
near the Kootenai River by the old mission.
This was small but it was a beginning.
“That’s where we started,” Aitkin
explained. That small land base allowed the
tribe to get more services and was a turning
point. In the intervening years, the tribe has
been able to acquire more land, and their
acreage is now upwards of 2,500 acres.
The tribe has worked closely with Bonner
County Commissioners during those years
to improve living conditions for everyone,
benefiting both the tribe and the community
of Bonners Ferry.
A major project helping both the tribe and
Bonners Ferry was the construction of the
Kootenai Falls Lodge in 1986.
Ten years later they opened the Kootenai
Falls Casino. Unemployment was very high
PAGE 5
Altering river flows almost eliminated
sturgeon reproduction, and the fish popu-
lation dropped dramatically. Fortunately,
sturgeon may live to be 100, so reproduction
continued but at an ever -reduced number.
It was 1991 when the tribe built their first
sturgeon hatchery. It was not only their first,
but the first sturgeon hatchery built in Indian
Country across the U.S. That hatchery now
provides roughly 10,000 young fish for release
in the river annually.
A second hatchery, the Twin Rivers
Sturgeon and Burbot Hatchery, was the first
of its kind in the world and opened with mem-
bers of Idaho’s congressional congregation
joining with local notables.
A Bonneville Power Administration official
stated at the time that it was fortunate the
war didn’t cause any bloodshed, but instead
provided the tribe with land. Since that time,
Shield for the Kootenai Tribe of Idaho. “they’ve built success upon success.” ISI
PHOTO BY JACK MCNEEL.
and income very low when the Lodge opened. Boise Valley Monument Co.
This was the first endeavor to change the
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Serving
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According to one tribal chairperson in since
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65 when the tribe declared war in 1974. That
number rose to 151 when Kootenai Falls Lodge
opened in 1995.
The tribe had no experience in running a
resort lodge, and they joined with Hagadone Come spend the
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when the Kootenai Falls Lodge was added, the
facility had one of the highest rates of room
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That’s just the beginning of the tribe’s
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