Kalispel
The Kalispel (also spelled Kalispell or Ktunaxa in their own language) are an Indigenous people of the Plateau cultural region, primarily residing in the inland Pacific Northwest of North America. Their traditional territory spans parts of present-day Montana, Idaho, and British Columbia, Canada, encompassing the Flathead Valley, the Kootenay River region, and the Selkirk Mountains.
The Kalispel language belongs to the Salishan language family, closely related to languages spoken by neighboring
European contact began in the late 18th century, with fur traders and explorers entering their territory. Disease,
Culturally, the Kalispel preserved traditions such as potlatches, storytelling, and ceremonial dances, though these were suppressed