Looking Into the Eyes of Idaho Native American History

Travel back to the time where neither house nor pavement covered the land. Instead on the mountains and plains you could see dancing smoke jump and spinn up to a heavenly expanse. There were no thoughts of cars, cell phones, or worries about bills. The priorities were looking for food and shelter, and maintaining the tribal name and standing.

The land in Idaho is rich in Native American background, complete with numerous settlers, animals, and drama.   Split into two major regions, the Great Basin in the South and the Plateau region in the North, Idaho natives were vastly different from one another.

Native American Traditions
The Shoshone and Bannock tribes were mainly hunters and gatherers, often leaving their residences to move to new locations.  Along with them they brought their buffalo to aid in transportation, hunting, and other necessary resources such as clothes and/or shelter.  An Eastern neighboring tribe from Washington called the Spokans, or Flatheads, had a negative relationship with the Coeur d'Alene tribe(hence the name Coeur d'Alene, Idaho), also known as the Pointed Hearts.  The two often participated in personal battles, resulting in deaths and unfriendly business.

Eventually the two tribes worked out their disagreements, forming the 'Flathead Nation' which included the title tribe, the Salish and Kootenai tribes.  After the fateful Indian Reorganization Act created in the third decade of the 20th century, the Flatheads conjured the original tribal government, using their remained sovereignty to sort out their affairs. The Kalispels, also known as Pend d'Oreilles lived a peaceful, simple life surrounding Lake Pend Oreille. The Nez Perce tribe, which translates as 'The People,' were also travelers seeking the most abundant lands. Before their complete modernization, the group split into two major parties, with the United States government acting as a catalyst for the split and journey to Canada. 
  
Clothing and Tools
While some Idaho tribes fashioned plain outfits completed with minimal decorations and/or jewelry, others fashioned elaborate pieces such as head dresses, buck and other animal skin dresses and jackets, fur coats, and face paint.  As hunters, the various tribes from both regions needed to supply themselves with tools.  Using materials such as wood, bone, and metal, they were able to make spears, fishing rods, and bow and arrows for food and survival.