The Kalispels
[show Cotes map of traditional territory]
Traditional homeland is along the:
- Pend Oreille and Clark Fork Rivers,
- Lake Pend Oreille,
- from NE Washington to NW Montana.
Kalispel Indians were in two divisions:
- The Pend Oreille or the Upper Pend Oreille.
- The Kalispel proper or the Lower Pend Oreille.
Kalispel is said to mean "camas root people."
Called "Pend Oreille" because of their custom of wearing shell ear ornaments.