The First Stewards: Indigenous History of Glacier National Park
Long before Glacier National Park was established in 1910, this land was home to thriving Native communities whose roots stretch back thousands of years. For the Blackfeet Nation, the Salish, the Pend d’Oreille, and the Kootenai peoples, these mountains, valleys, and rivers weren’t just scenery—they were sacred, sustaining, and deeply woven into cultural identity.
Today, as millions of people visit Glacier for its beauty and adventure, it’s important to remember and honor the original stewards of this land.
🪶 The Blackfeet Nation: Keepers of the Eastern Front
The Blackfeet (Niitsitapi) people have called the eastern side of Glacier home since time immemorial. Their territory once stretched from what is now Alberta, Canada, to the Yellowstone River in Montana.
For the Blackfeet, places like Chief Mountain, Two Medicine, and Many Glacier are more than landmarks—they’re spiritual places tied to creation stories, sacred ceremonies, and ancestral history. Even today, the Blackfeet Reservation borders the park’s eastern edge, and tribal members continue to hunt, gather plants, and conduct ceremonies in the region.
In 1895, under pressure from the U.S. government, the Blackfeet were forced to sell a large portion of their land that would eventually become the eastern half of Glacier National Park. This land was promised to remain open for traditional uses, but those rights were later limited or denied. That history is still very present today, as the Blackfeet continue to advocate for the recognition of their cultural rights and connection to the park.
🏔️ The Salish, Pend d’Oreille & Kootenai: The Western Keepers
On the west side of Glacier and throughout the Flathead Valley, the Salish, Pend d’Oreille, and Kootenai peoples lived in close relationship with the mountains and forests. These tribes traveled with the seasons, gathering berries, roots, and medicinal plants, and hunting game across the mountain passes.
Their knowledge of the land is vast and deeply embedded in oral tradition. Today, they are represented by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes (CSKT), headquartered on the Flathead Reservation just south of the park.
While Glacier’s creation in 1910 effectively cut these tribes off from many of their traditional homelands and practices, the CSKT continue to teach, protect, and revitalize their cultural ties to the park and surrounding ecosystems.
🔥 Resilience, Revitalization, and Reconnection
For decades, the Indigenous history of Glacier National Park was underrepresented in official narratives. But that’s starting to change.
The Blackfeet Nation and CSKT now collaborate with the National Park Service to incorporate tribal stories and knowledge into visitor education.
Interpretive signs, ranger talks, and tribal cultural events are helping to tell a more complete story of Glacier’s past and present.
There’s a slow but growing movement to re-indigenize Glacier, bringing back traditional names, access rights, and cultural practices.
✨ Honoring the Land’s Original Stewards
As visitors and outdoor lovers, we have a responsibility to not only enjoy Glacier’s wild beauty, but also to recognize the deep Indigenous heritage of the park. Many of the places we hike and photograph have been sacred for thousands of years.
Whether you’re exploring Grinnell Glacier, biking Going-to-the-Sun Road, or visiting Many Glacier, remember that these lands were—and are—home to people who have cared for them across generations.
🚐 Planning a Trip?
We offer shuttles and tour support to areas like Many Glacier and Two Medicine—both places with rich Indigenous history and spiritual significance. We’re here to help you connect with the land responsibly and respectfully.
