FDI - Spokane

The Spokane were hunter/gatherer tribes of the Northwestern Plateau. Prehistorically, the tribes were driven south from Canada by the Cree and Athapaskan tribes. This language group was comprised of three divisions; the Lower Spokane located about the mouth and the lower course of the Spokane River, the Upper or Little Spokane located along the Little Spokane River into Idaho, and the Middle Spokane located on the lower part of Hangman's Creek.

They traded with the first Whites to arrive, but ultimately had conflicts with the suffered from the later settlers. They were defeated in the Spokane War taking heavy losses in the Battle of Four Lakes.

Aboriginal Locations (Subdivisions)

WA (3)

Year	*History*
1781	Smallpox epidemic
1805	Visited by Lewis and Clark
1809	David Thompson established Kullyspell House trading post on Lake Pend d'Orielle
1810	David Thompson established Spokane House
1811	David Thompson explored the length of the Columbia River
1812	Astor built Fort Spokan trading post which only remained in business one year
1819	Grate sickness
1836	Protestant missionary Samuel Parker visited Spokanes
1841	Influx of Oregon Trail settlers began, conflicts followed
1842	Tribe visited by Catholic missionary Fr. de Smet
1848	Measles epidemic
1853	Smallpox epidemic
1855	Major Heller and 100 men routed in with a joint force of Yakimas, Columbias, Wanapams, Wallwallas, Palouse, and Spokanes ... "Toppenish Fight"
1858	Spokane War (Coeur 'd'Alene War), heavy losses at Battle Four Lakes, forced to sign harsh treaty
1872	Some joined Colville
1880	Fort Spokane built to protect settler from Indian attacks
1881	Spokane Reservation established by President Hayes Executive Order, 154,000 acres
1892	Most of Upper Band moved to Coeur d'Alene Reservation, while some moved to Flathead Reservation; most of the Middle Band moved onto the Spokane Reservation.
1911	First Catholic church built for tribe

Year	U.S. Population	MT	WA	Source
1700	1.400		1,400	NAHDB calculation
1800	1,000		1,000	NAHDB calculation
1900	600	100	500	NAHDB calculation
1905	595			US Indian Office
1909	647			US Indian Office
1910	643			Census
1923	669			US Indian Office
1937	847			US Indian Office
1981	1,921			BIA
1989	1,450			Spokane Res. only
2000	2,700	600	2,100	NAHDB calculation
2004	2,153			IHC (Spokane Res. only)

*Ethnie:*	SPOKANE
*Language:*	Spokane
*Family:*	Southern Interior Salish
*Stock:*	Interior Salish
*Phylum:*	Salishan
*Macro-Culture:*	Northwest Plateau