Kutenai

North Americahunter-gatherers
Map
expand_more Description

The Kutenai live in the vicinity of the Kootenay River in southeastern British Columbia, Canada, and northern Idaho and northwestern Montana, United States. Traditionally, they were organized into bilinear kin-based bands relying on foraging and fishing. Leadership was based on skill, wealth, generosity, and perceived spirituality. Their religious practices and beliefs included sweat lodge ceremonies, shamanism, reincarnation, and vision quests.

Identifier
Region
  • North America
Subregion
  • Plains and Plateau
Subsistence Type
  • hunter-gatherers
Samples
Countries
  • Canada
  • United States