The Coeur dAlene

Culture

1. Who are the Coeur dAlene?

- A centuries old tribe with an uncertain origin.
2. Where do they live and how big is their territory?
- 5,000,000 acres in North Idaho
3. How did they view buffalo hunting?
- Saw it as a coming of age of manhood.
4. Who gave them the nickname Coeur dAlene?
- French Traders
5. What does Coeur dAlene mean?
- Heart of the Awl.
Council

6. How does the council interact with the U.S. Government?

-Direct deals or meetings with the president.
Departments

7. What is the ultimate goal of the tribes elected leaders?

- Look ahead and create progress with their people
8. How will they achieve this?
- Economic development, High Economy, and Better standard education.
9. Choose of the 16 departments and summarize (not copy and paste) its function.
-Finance-
- Used to keep control of the tribes finances and to keep up with any billing and payments being
brought in.
Environment

10. What is the Coeur dAlene Basin Restoration Project?

-To restore the natural environment that was damaged over the years of mining.
11. What happened to the watershed?
- It was poisoned with coal.
12. What did the Supreme Court decide in 2001?
- The U.S. Supreme Court recognized that the Tribe has always been the owner of the lower one-third
of Coeur dAlene Lake and other related waters.
Reservation

13. How did the ancient Coeur dAlene earn their livings?
-They used what was in nature, giving specific chores with different useful resources.
14. What is the reservations current economy based on?
- The Agriculture.
15. What are 2 other parts of their economy?
- Logging and Tourism.
16. What is the shadowy St. Joe?
-One of North Americas premier trout streams.
Sovereignty

17. Look up and define sovereignty.

-Full rights or Power for a settlement to govern itself.
18. What does the statement, The Sovereignty of Indian tribes is INHERENT, mean?
- It existed since time immemorial.

19. What is the most common government-to-government relationship between the U.S. government
and Indian nations?
- The power of Congress to make treaties.
20. What is unique about the tribes in Idaho?
-Tribes have the power to establish their own form of government.
21. Why do tribal members say their commitment to preservation and control of their heritage?
- Because of their commitment to future generations, because of their connection with the land, and
because of their connections to their ancestors buried in it.
Warriors

22. Why are the following dates/events/places important to the Coeur dAlene tribe?

-A. D-Day, June 6, 1944: Sol Louie was killed in mid-air during the paratroopers' descent to
behind enemy lines.
According to tribal elder Irene Lowley, her grandmother was offered a sealed lead casket but was
unsure if the casket truly contained her sons remains. So she declined.
As of today, Charles K. Louis, a direct descendent of Circling Raven, is listed on the WWII Honor Roll
and on the tablets of the missing at the Normandy American Cemetery at St. Laurent-Mer, France.
His status there is listed as missing in action or buried at sea. The tablets say he died on D-Day and
was awarded the bronze star and a purple heart. On the list of WWII dead by state, he is listed as
being killed in action.
-B. Belgium Border: Later that fall, on November 21, 1944, the brother of Felix S. Aripa -
Moses, or mu'is - was killed in action at the Belgium border as allied troops moved inland towards
Germany.
-C. Stalag 17: Gabriel Aripa, a nephew to Felix and Moses Aripa, was actually taken as a
prisoner of war and had to learn how to survive when he spent time in the big German POW camp
known famously from books, movies, and history as Stalag 17.
-D. The Italian Alps: In World War II Marcus Nicodemus distinguished himself with his
leadership, as recognized by his superior in the U.S. Army's 10th Mountain Division.
-E. The Pacific Theater: Private First Class Adolph Alphonse Alexie was killed in action in the
South Pacific. He was on Okinawa Island on April 6, 1945 and was buried in the 96th Infantry
Division Temporary Cemetery there.
Elmer Falcon died of wounds he received in combat on the island of Layte in the Philippines. Falcon
was the first husband of Margaret (Joseph) Stensgar, the mother of current Coeur d'Alene Tribal
chairman Ernest L. Stensgar.