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Community InformationThe Fort Belknap Service Unit is located on the Fort Belknap Reservation in north central Montana. The reservation is approximately 675,336 acres or 1,200 square miles in Blaine and Phillips counties. In addition, there are 29,731 acres of tribal land outside the Reservation boundaries. The north to south boundary extends 40 miles in length. The width is approximately 26 miles. Most of the northern portion of the reservation consists of the glacial plains and alluvial bottomlands. The southern portion of the reservation drains into the Milk River and consists of rolling grasslands, river “breaks”, and two principle mountain ranges – the Bearspaw and the Little Rocky Mountains. These mountains reach an elevation of approximately 6,000 feet. The Reservation is home to the Gros Ventre (Ah Ah Nee Nin) and Assiniboine (Nakoda) Nations. The Gros Ventre call themselves the White Clay People or Ah Ah Nee Nin. The Assiniboine (from the Chippewa, meaning one who cooks by use of stone) is a detachment from the Sioux Tribe. Enrolled members living on or near the Fort Belknap Reservation is 5,771. Enrolled members living off the Fort Belknap Reservation is 1,532. There are four major communities at Fort Belknap: the Fort Belknap Agency in the northwest corner of the reservation; Hays, Lodgepole, and Milk River Valley. Harlem, which lies outside the reservation boundaries north of the Fort Belknap Agency, also has a large Indian population.Visitors to the Fort Belknap Reservation can take guided tours of the Snake Butte Area, the Tribal buffalo herd, and ancient teepee rings. Or they are welcome to tour on their own and visit the old round hall at Lodge Pole which is a Montana Historical Landmark, the Mission Canyon, Chief Joseph Battleground Monument, St. Paul’s Mission Church, the Natural Bridge State Monument, the C.M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge or the Fort Belknap Gift Shop featuring handcrafted Native American arts and crafts. The Fort Belknap Community College operates and supports a commercial-free radio station. Since 1996 they have been broadcasting powwow music, contemporary tunes, weekend basketball games, updates on national Native American issues, and community issues including health fairs and clinic services offered by Indian Health Service.
EducationHarlem Public SchoolsSuperintendent Phone: 406-353-2289 Harlem Elementary Phone: 406-353-2258 Harlem Junior High Phone: 406-353-2287 Harlem High School Phone: 406-353-2287
Hays-Lodge Pole Schools
Tribal College
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