Crow Reservation
Crow Reservation
The Crow Reservation, established by treaties between 1868 and 1886, encompasses over 1.7 million acres in Montana with a 1890 population of 2,287 Crows. Agricultural efforts have failed due to prolonged drought, necessitating irrigation for land productivity. The agency provides rations and has facilities for farming and education, though many students lack job opportunities. The Crows maintain traditional lifestyles and social structures, struggling against health issues and the influence of medicine men. The reservation features copper, gold, and silver deposits, with ongoing efforts to develop agricultural and industrial skills among the population.
Hidatsa
The Hidatsa Indians, formerly called Minitari or Gros Ventres of the Missouri, have a complex history marked by migration and social changes. Their name’s origin is debated, with associations to buffalo mythology. They migrated northward around 1765 and established three villages on Knife River by 1796. Encountered by Lewis and Clark in 1804, their population suffered greatly from smallpox, leading to consolidation into a single village. By 1890, their population was 522. The Hidatsa and the Crow, referred to differently by each other, displayed diverse cultural identities and shifts over time.