Little Shell Recognition: It's been a long time coming

You've probably already heard the big news: the Little Shell tribe has finally received federal recognition! It's a momentous occurrence that has been a long time coming--125 years! As such it deserves discussion and provides a great teachable moment.

Government teachers

In addition to providing an opportunity to discuss federal recognition and what it means to tribes, it's also a great opportunity to feature bipartisanship--something all too rare in today's world.  Finally, it's an opportunity to learn about federal riders and the weird way things sometimes get done in D.C. One interesting exercise is to examine the bill itself. First, have students read the summary. Can they find information on the Little Shell? Next have them browse the Defense Appropriations Bill to find mention of the Little Shell. (It's hard to find. They'll ultimately need to do an electronic search.) Ask your students: What category is the recognition under ("Military Construction and General Provisions"). The rider is Subtitle F. What's in Subtitle E?

Other teachers

Consider showing the 2:49 minute video "Indian Nations: Little Shell Chippewa" created by the Montana Office of Tourism and check out the resources I highlighted in this earlier post on the Métis, which includes links to material to use grades 3-12.


In Canada, the Métis are recognized as aboriginal peoples, along with the First Nations and the Inuit. In the U.S. there is no such recognition. Many Little Shell also identify as Métis. Others identify strictly as Chippewa. To understand the Little Shell's connection to the Métis, see the tribe's official website, Nicholas Vrooman's article, "The Persistence of the Little Shell People," in Distinctly Montana, and his longer and more detailed explanation in the Study Guide and Timeline OPI published to accompany 'The Whole County Was ... One Robe': The Little Shell Tribe's America, particularly the introduction to " 'One Robe' Detailed Synopsis."