Tribal Timelines
Tribal Timelines
Article Index:
The Abenaki were a woodland hunter/ farmer confederacy who’s tradition states that they migrated from the Southwest. They ranged throughout southwestern Maine into Vermont and New Hampshire. Early contact was with the British, but the tribe was missionized and allied with the French. They ranged throughout southwestern Maine into Vermont and New Hampshire. Early contact was with the British, but the tribe was missionized and allied with the French.
A large Abenaki Confederation was formed as early as 1679 as a military organization resulting in the tribe participating in numerous conflicts on both the side of the French and British and suffering great losses over the years. The only recognized Abenaki reside in Quebec though most of the tribe live in Vermont.
A large Abenaki Confedereation was formed as early as 1679 as a military organization resulting in the tribe participating in numerous conflicts on both sides of the French and British wars and suffering great losses over the years.
The only recognized Abenaki tribe resides in Quebec, Canada though most of the tribe live in Vermont state in the United States today.
Year | History |
1497 | European fishing boats soon began fishing at Grand Bank off of the coast of Maine soon after the visit of Sebastian Cabot |
1524 | Giovanni da Verrazano also explored the area |
1607 | Unsuccessful attempt by the Plymouth Company to establish a colony on the Kennebec River |
1614 | Captain James Smith met Abenaki when he explored and mapped the coast of northern New England |
1616 | Epidemic |
1619 | Epidemic (75% depopulation over two epidemics) |
1628 | Mohawk attacked Western Abenaki |
1633 | Smallpox epidemic |
1637 | Abenaki received first firearms |
1646 | Beginning of French trading missions to the Abenaki |
1647 | Eastern Abenaki attacked by Mohawk |
1650 | Mohawk once again began attacking Western Abenaki and other Algonquian tribes |
1675 | Few Abenaki participated in King Philip’s War |
1676 | Many Abenaki retreated to Quebec |
1679 | Abenaki returned to Maine |
1688 | Outbreak of war between Britain and France; Abenaki turned on New England colonists |
1699 | Abenaki promised to remain neutral by treaty |
1701 | Queen Ann’s War; Abenaki raids resumed |
1726 | War in Maine ended with defeat of Eastern Abenaki and a peace treaty; Canadian Abenaki at Wolinak and St. Francois to agreed to peace with New England |
1727 | Grey Lock was absent from the treaty signed at Montreal but a long peace soon ensued |
1730 | Smallpox epidemic forced the abandonment of Missisquoi |
1731 | Missisquoi reoccupied |
1744 | King George’s War (1744-48) between Britain and France, peace ended, Abenaki and Sokoki supported the French, the Cowasuck and Eastern Abenaki removed toward Canada, a few St. Francois and Pigwacket found refuge near Boston with the English |
1746 | At least 35 Abenaki and Sokoki war parties attacked the frontier |
1748 | Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle; complete peace took two or more years |
1750 | Pigwacket disappear from record |
1754 | The murder of two of Abenaki hunters by New Englanders brought retaliatory raids against the New England |
1755 | French and Indian War (1755-63) |
1757 | Abenaki and Sokoki warriors participated in Montcalm’s campaign in northern New York |
1759 | Rangers commanded by Major Robert Rogers attacked and burned St. Francois, 30 probably killed though 200 claimed |
1761 | Abenaki scattered in small groups as settlers claimed their land |
1776 | St. Francois were divided but some helped the Americans attack Boston and provided guides for Benedict Arnold’s failed expedition against Quebec |
1781 | Some Abenaki served with the British and raided Maine’s Androscoggin Valley |
1812 | War of 1812, last conflict participated in by the Abenaki on British side |
The Crow (ABSAROKE OR ABSALOOKE) were sedentary hunter/farmers until they separated from the Hidatsa in two groups about A.D. 1400 and 1600. Upon separation, they became nomadic hunter/gatherers of the northern Plains. In historic times, they ranged from the valley of the Yellowstone in southern Montana south as far as the Laramie fork of the Platte in Wyoming. They were constantly in conflict with most of their neighbors and severely outnumbered. Here is a timeline of important events in their history. |
They allied with the United States against their mutual enemies, but were never recognized for their sacrafices. |
The Mountain Crow were in southern Montana and northern Wyoming, while the River Crow lived among the Hidatsa in North Dakota. Today, they live on the Crow Reservation, whose tribal offices are in Crow Agency, Montana.
Year | History |
1400 | Oral tradition: The ancestral tribe of the Crow and the Hidatsa were living the “Land of Forests and many lakes” ( The present upper Great Lakes of Canada and the United States) |
1450 | Oral tradition: Two leaders of this group, No Intestines and Red Scout, fasted at Holy lake (present day Devils Lake, North Dakota), Red Scout received a vision indicating that his people would survive through the spiritual graces of Sacred Tobacco. Red Scout and his people settled on the Missouri and learned horticulture from the Mandan, eventually becoming the contemporary Hidatsa’s. No Intestines and his followers traveled on an extensive migration in search of the Sacred Tobacco. The trek eventually led them to their historic homeland, present-day southeastern Montana and northern Wyoming. This group became known as the Ashalahó/Many Lodges or the historic Mountain Crow |
1490 | Oral tradition: The Mountain Crow were firmly established in their homeland, displacing the Shoshones and allying themselves with the resident Kiowa’s |
1600 | Oral tradition: The next band of the Crow developed out of a separation from the Hidatsa. Sometime after No Intestines group had become established on the Plains and argument arose between two factions in the Hidatsa villages on the Missouri River. The quarrel was over the distribution of a drowned buffalo, the wife of the leader Bad Heart Bear felt that she had not received enough of the tripe. The ensuing dispute led to a permanent separation when the followers of Bad Heart Bear joined the Ashalahó Apsáalooke on the Plains. This group became known as the Binnéassiippeele/Those Who Live Amongst The River Banks, or the historic River Crow. |
1700 | Oral tradition: The Apsáalooke acquired their first horses from a Shoshone camp near the Great Salt Lake. |
1743 | A group of Apsáalooke camped at the confluence of the Bighorn and Little Bighorn Rivers meet with the La Vérendrye Brothers, French-Canadian traders, most likely the first encounter between the Apsáalooke and the Europeans |
1805 | Lewis and Clark Expedition travels across Apsáalooke territory |
1805 | On their return trip in 1806, the horses meant for Clark, being held by his sergeant, Nathaniel Pryor, are taken by Crow warriors |
1824 | Beginning of mountain man fur trade era |
1825 | The first treaty between the Crow and the United States is signed by Crow leader Long Hair and Major O’Fallon of the United States. The other prominent Crow leader Rotten Belly refused to sign |
1830 | Female warrior Pine Leaf killed four Blackfeet at Fort Union and was named Woman Chief by Rotten Belly |
1833 | Killed more than 200 Cheyenne in revenge battle; contracted smallpox from a wagon train |
1840 | The Crow were afflicted smallpox epidemic, end of mountain man fur trade era |
1846 | Attacked and virtually destroyed the Small Robes band of Piegan Blackfeet under Chief Rotten Belly |
1848 | Caught smallpox from Northern Shoshoni tribe |
1849 | Lost 600 to influenza |
1851 | The Crow participated in the first Ft. Laramie Treaty signed by Chief Big Robber which stated that the Crow controlled over 33 million acres of land in present-day Montana and Wyoming, caught smallpox from Northern Shoshoni |
1853 | Indian agent estimated that Crow owned 20 horses per adult male |
1856 | Woman Chief killed by Gros Ventre |
1864 | The outnumbered Crow successfully defended themselves against the combined forces of the Lakota, Cheyenne, and Arapaho on East Pryor Creek north of present-day Pryor, Montana, the largest and most dramatic battle to protect eastern Crow lands from the Lakota invasion of the 1860’s |
1865 | The Crow assisted the United States military in protecting travelers on the Bozeman Trail, three forts were established in Crow territory. |
1866 | Chief Big Robber killed in duel with Northern Shoshoni Chief Washakie in Battle of Crowheart Butte |
1868 | The Crow participated in the second Ft. Laramie Treaty, and their land holdings were reduced to 8 million acres in present-day Montana |
1869 | The first government agency is established for the Crow on Hide Scraper Creek (present-day Mission Creek, Montana) |
1872 | Crow land holdings were reduced again and the government agency is moved to present-day Absarokee, Montana |
1876 | The Crow continued to support the United States military by supplying the scouts to the columns of the Centennial Campaign |
1877 | The Crow repelled constant attacks against the invading Lakota, Cheyenne and Arapaho, with and without the assistance of the United States military, even pursuing the fleeing Lakota’s into Canada |
1882 | The Crow agreed to another land cession and the government agency is moved to its present site at Crow Agency, Montana |
1887 | Aided Nez Perce in flight to Canada |
1950 | Water rights to Yellowtail Dam lost by tribe |
1983 | Crows win inherent sovereignty case in Supreme Court |
The Acolapissa were Choctaw speaking hunter/farmers of the lower Mississippi River in Louisiana. They occupied the Natchitoches for some time, having a battle upon their separation. After decimation by a smallpox epidemic, and having suffered a slaving raid by the British and Chickasaw, this tribe allied with the French.
They ultimately confederated with the Houma and followed their fortunes. Eventually, the remaining Acolapissa were absorbed into the Houma tribe in Louisiana.
Year | History |
1697 | Smallpox epidemic |
1698 | Encountered d’Bienville, Acolapissa had just been in battle with British and Chickasaw (slaving raid) |
1701 | Acolapissa sold by Virginians as slaves for the Carribbean Islands |
1702 | Had suffered population losses due to previous epidemic, removed from Pearl River to Lake Ponchartrain, joined by Natchitoches |
1714 | Battle with Natchitoches causing separation |
1718 | Moved across Mississippi River to near New Orleans |
1739 | Joined Houma and followed their fortunes |