Coeur d’Alene (Native Americans of the Plateau)

Coeur d’Alene, French for "awl heart," is reportedly a reference by an Anglo trader to the trading skills of these Indians. Their self-designation was Skitswish, perhaps meaning "foundling."

Location In the eighteenth century, the Coeur d’Alene lived along the Spokane River upstream from Spokane Falls, including Lake Coeur d’Alene. The region of over four million acres is fertile and well watered. In the early nineteenth century the tribe lived in central Idaho, eastern Washington, and western Montana; the mountains in this area helped to protect their horses against raiders from the Plains. Today’s Coeur d’Alene Reservation is located in Benewah and Kootenai Counties, Idaho.

Population The aboriginal (early-eighteenth-century) population of roughly 2,000 had declined to about 500 by 1850. In 1990, 749 Coeur d’Alene and Spokan Indians lived on the reservation, and another 500 or so lived off-reservation.

Language Coeur d’Alene Indians spoke an Interior Salish dialect. They also used a local sign language.

Historical Information

History Like all Salish peoples, the Coeur d’Alenes probably originated in British Columbia. They migrated to the Plateau during their prehistoric period, keeping some Pacific Coast attributes even after they adopted Plateau culture. They acquired the horse around 1760, at which time they gave up their semisedentary lives to hunt buffalo, Plains-style.


Their traditional antipathy toward outsiders made it difficult for trappers to penetrate their territory. A Jesuit mission was established in 1842, however, foreshadowing the significant role the Jesuits were to play in their later history. At this time, the Jesuits successfully influenced the Indians to give up buffalo hunting and begin farming.

In the meantime, intermittent warfare with Indians and non-Indians, plus disease and crowding, had dropped their population by about 85 percent by 1850. In 1858 they fought the ill-fated Coeur d’Alene war (1858) with the help of tribes such as the Northern Paiute, Palouse, and Spokan. Although the immediate cause of this conflict was white treaty violations, it may be seen as an extension of the Yakima war (1855-1856) and the general Plateau Indian resistance struggle during that time.

The roughly 600,000-acre Coeur d’Alene Reservation was created in 1873, at which time the Indians ceded almost 2.4 million acres. However, pressure from miners soon forced the tribe to cede almost 185,000 more acres in the late 1880s. Most of the rest of their land was lost to the allotment process in the early twentieth century. In 1894, 32 Spokan families joined the reservation. Most Coeur d’Alene Indians became Catholics, farmers, and stock breeders. In 1958, the tribe was awarded over $4.3 million in land claims settlements.

Religion Mythical creatures and spirits were all around and in many different forms. Everyone could potentially obtain guardian spirits through vision quests. Furthermore, people prayed for luck to forces of nature. Shamans cured with the help of especially powerful guardians. The few group festivals were held at the beginning of the food season.

Government There were originally three geographical divisions of Coeur d’Alene Indians: Coeur d’Alene River, Spokane River, and Coeur d’Alene Lake. Each was composed of autonomous bands, which were in turn composed of groups of several families, each led by an elected chief. There was no overall tribal organization until the mid-nineteenth century.

Customs Coeur d’Alenes were fiercely independent. Band territorial rights merited a high degree of respect. The people practiced some polygyny. Descent and residence were generally patrilineal. The dead were wrapped in blankets and buried in the ground or under rocks. In addition, the Coeur d’Alenes engaged in giveaways reminiscent of the coastal potlatch.

Dwellings Semiexcavated conical mat houses held between one and three families. Larger, aboveground structures were used for communal activities. Sweat houses were made of bark or grasses over a willow-stick frame. As the tribe became more nomadic, skin tipis gradually replaced mat lodges.

Diet In addition to salmon and other fish, deer was a staple before the time of large-scale buffalo hunting. Other important animal foods included elk, antelope, moose, sheep, bear, and small game. Dogs provided assistance in the hunt. Camas, bulbs, roots, seeds, and berries rounded out the diet.

Key Technology Fishing technology included assorted gaffs, hooks, traps, and nets. A variety of coiled baskets served different functions. Many utensils were made of stone and bone. Pipes were carved of soapstone. Bows were made of mountain sheep horn.

Trade The Coeur d’Alene traded in coiled baskets, rabbit-skin clothing, and, especially after the mid-eighteenth century, horses and buffalo-derived items. They were known for their shrewd trading practices.

Notable Arts Artistic expression may be seen especially in the manufacture of coiled baskets.

Transportation Cedar-bark canoes were used to traverse lakes and navigate rivers. Horses were in general use from about 1760 on.

Dress Traditional clothing was made of woven rabbit skin and the skins of deer, elk, or antelope. Women wore aprons, and men wore leggings, breechclout, and shirt. Beginning in the late eighteenth century, beads and quillwork were added to many clothes. Both sexes wore moccasins and robes in cold weather.

War and Weapons Aboriginally, the people enjoyed good relations with their neighbors, only occasionally fighting with the Nez Perces or the Spokan. After they acquired the horse, the Coeur d’Alene were allied with the Nez Perce, the Flathead, and the Kootenai against Plains tribes such as the Crow, Lakota, and Blackfeet. Coeur d’Alenes generally won few wars.

Contemporary Information

Government/Reservations The Coeur d’Alene Reservation (1873) is located in Benewah and Kootenai Counties, Idaho. It contains 69,176 acres and had a 1990 population of 749 Indians. The constitution, approved in 1949, calls for a seven-member tribal council elected for three-year terms. Reservation residents are mostly Coeur d’Alene but also include some Kalispel, Spokan, and other Indians. The tribe is a member of the Upper Columbia United Tribes and the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians. Some Coeur d’Alene Indians also live on the Colville Reservation (see Colville).

Economy Farming, grazing, and lumbering constitute the most important economic activities. There are also a large tribal farm, a shopping center, a medical center, a construction company, and a service station. Unemployment is chronically high (around 50 percent). Some Indians continue to hunt, fish, and gather foods on and around the reservation. A gambling establishment has been proposed. The tribe received almost $174,000 in land claims settlements in 1981, money that helps the tribe in its goal to purchase lost tribal land.

Legal Status The Coeur d’Alene Tribe is a federally recognized tribal entity. The people are currently contesting the U.S. claim to Coeur d’Alene Lake.

Daily Life Most Coeur d’Alene Indians are Catholics. Little traditional culture remains, although some language preservation programs have recently been instituted. Children attend a mission school or public schools. People celebrate various Catholic and quasi-traditional ceremonies. There is a tribal college scholarship fund. The tribe is reacquiring non-Indian owned land in order to unify its land base. It is currently engaged in environmental reclamation projects to mitigate the effects of mining devastation.

Next post:

Previous post: