FLATHEAD

Salish-speaking Indian tribe of what is now western Montana, U.S., whose territory extended from the crest of the Bitterroot Range to the Continental Divide of the Rockies and centred on the upper reaches of the Clark Fork of the Columbia River. Salish was the native name of the tribe, but Flathead is now customary; they themselves did not practice head-flattening, but some of their slaves came from tribes that did. Some early accounts termed all Salish-speaking tribes Flathead (see Salish). The Flatheads were the easternmost tribe of the so-called Plateau culture area but exhibited many of the traits of the Plains Indians just east over the Rockies. The Flatheads had acquired horses in great number and mounted annual fall expeditions to hunt bison on the Plains, often warring with Plains tribes. Furthermore, Plains-type warfare and its honours were emphasized, including staging war dances, killing and scalping enemies, making quick coups (simply touching enemies to shame them), and stealing horses. The Plains tepee was the usual dwelling of the Flatheads, though the A-framed, mat-covered lodge, a typical Plateau structure, was also used. Western Flathead groups had bark canoes, but eastern groups had only the makeshift bison-skin tubs known as bullboats, typical of the Plains. Fishing was important among them, as it was among other Plateau Indians. Flathead religious belief centred on guardian spirits, with whom one communicated in visions. A spirit could bring good fortune or health to the person it guarded or disease and misfortune to others. There were also shamans, or medicine men. Since 1872 the Flatheads have resided primarily on the Flathead Indian Reservation north of Missoula, Mont.