Rocky Boy's Indian Reservation
Updated: February 3, 2026
Rocky Boy's Indian Reservation is in north-central Montana, in Hill and Chouteau counties, about 40-50 miles south of the Canadian border. It is Montana's smallest reservation by land area, with roughly 120,000-130,000 acres set against the Bear Paw Mountains and the surrounding bottomlands. The reservation is the homeland of the Chippewa Cree Tribe, which has around 5,600-6,100 enrolled members, with a few thousand people living on the reservation itself.
Many on-reservation jobs are with the Chippewa Cree Tribe and tribal programs, including tribal government, schools, Stone Child College, Indian Health Service, and the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Agriculture and livestock remain important; tribally owned farms and ranches raise crops such as wheat and barley, along with cattle, and water-development projects support both current agriculture and future growth. In addition, new and developing enterprises focus on energy, tourism, and small businesses in construction, services, and outdoor recreation.
Stone Child College, a tribally controlled college at Rocky Boy's Agency, offers more than traditional two-year programs. Along with associate degrees in areas such as Cree Language, Liberal Arts, Native American Studies, Early Childhood Education, Business, Computer Science, Information Systems, Natural Resource Studies, Allied Health, and Human Services, the college also offers at least one bachelor's degree in education. Certificate programs include Accounting, Building Trades, Information Management, Pre-Engineering, Pre-Nursing, and Native American Art. Many courses include Chippewa Cree history, language, and cultural content.
Points of Interest
- Stone Child College, which hosts cultural events, language classes, youth programs, and community gatherings as well as academic courses.
- Chippewa Cree Fish & Game areas, where tribal members and visitors (with proper permits) can hunt and fish under tribal regulations in the Bear Paw foothills and surrounding lands.
- Scenic drives and informal trail areas in the Bear Paw Mountains, offering views of coulees, forested ridges, and wildlife in a landscape that is central to Chippewa Cree homelands.
Events
Rocky Boy's Annual Powwow, typically held in early August, is the major celebration on the reservation. It brings together dancers, singers, and families from across the region for several days of contests, social dances, and giveaways. Visitors are welcome at public events and are encouraged to follow powwow etiquette, listen to the master of ceremonies, and ask permission before taking close-up photos of participants or ceremonies.
Historical Background
The Chippewa and Cree who formed today's Chippewa Cree Tribe were among the last tribal groups to be granted a permanent reservation in Montana. Both originally lived in the Great Lakes and Canadian Plains region. Chippewa (Ojibwe) bands associated with Rocky Boy's came from places such as Turtle Mountain in North Dakota, while Cree bands moved south from the Prairie Provinces of Canada.
In the late 1800s and early 1900s, many Chippewa and Cree people in Montana were landless, moving between towns and other reservations, and repeatedly petitioned the U.S. government for a home. Smallpox and other diseases, along with the loss of buffalo and other game, brought severe hardship. In 1916, the United States established Rocky Boy's Reservation as a refuge for these "homeless" bands, naming it in honor of the Chippewa leader Stone Child (often rendered as "Rocky Boy") and including the followers of Cree leader Little Bear. Over time, the two groups intermarried and formally united as the Chippewa Cree Tribe.
Today, the Chippewa Cree Tribe continues to develop its economy, expand Stone Child College, manage water and land resources, and strengthen Chippewa Cree language and culture, while honoring the long struggle their ancestors faced to secure a homeland in the Bear Paw region.
For more information about the Rocky Boy's Reservation contact:The Chippewa-Cree Business Committee
RR1, Box 542
Box Elder, MT 59521
406-395-4282
VisitMT - Rocky Boys Reservation
Updated: February 3, 2026