MOU Tribal information
Working with MOU Tribes
University of Idaho values respectful, collaborative partnerships with the 11 Tribal Nations that are signatories to our Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). Each Tribe has its own unique history, governance structure, research protocols and cultural priorities. This page provides helpful information to guide researchers in engaging with MOU Tribes in ways that honor Tribal sovereignty and promote meaningful, ethical collaboration.
Whether you're preparing a research proposal, planning a project or seeking to build new partnerships, this resource is designed to support your work and help foster strong, trust-based relationships with Tribal communities.
MOU Tribes
The Coeur d'Alene Tribe
| Contact information: | Coeur d'Alene Tribe Headquarters PO Box 408, 850A Street, Plummer ID 83851 Phone: 208-686-1800 |
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| State Legislative District: | Idaho State Legislative Districts 3 and 5 |
| Congressional District: | Idaho Congressional District 1 |
| Counties: | Kootenai County, Benewah County |
| Reservation description: | The Coeur d'Alene Indian Reservation is in north-central Idaho with tribal headquarters located in the town of Plummer. The reservation consists of 345,000 acres. The lower one-third of Lake Coeur d'Alene is on the reservation. The reservation is primarily fringe ecosystem where the Palouse prairie meets the forests of the western slopes of the Bitterroot Mountains. Historically, the Coeur d’Alene people lived on 5,000,000 acres in eastern Washington, in Idaho as far north as Lake Pend Oreille and as far south as the north shores of the Snake River in Idaho. The valleys and mountains of Western Montana were included in the homelands. |
| Population/Enrollment: | The people's name for themselves is Schitsu'umsh, "Those Found Here" or "Discovered People." There are 2,405 enrolled members of the tribe. |
| Enterprises: | Coeur d'Alene Casino and Hotel, Circling Raven golf Course, Development Corp, Benewah market, Benewah Ace Hardware, Benewah Automobile, Tribal Farm, Echelon (Formerly Berg), Conoco Station, Red Spectrum Communications |
| Schools (Public/Tribal): | Coeur d'Alene Early Childhood Learning Center Plummer-Worley School District #44 Lakeside Elementary Lakeside Jr/Sr High School Coeur d'Alene Tribal School, Grades P-8 |
| Reservation map: |
Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation
| Contact information: | The Yakama Nation Main Agency Offices 401 Fort Road, P.O. Box 151, Toppenish, WA 98948 Phone: 509-865-5121 |
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| State Legislative District: | Washington State Legislative District 14 and 15 |
| Congressional District: | Washington State Congressional District 4 |
| Counties: | Yakima County |
| Reservation description: | The Yakama Nation is comprised of 1,130,000 acres. The western boundary includes the eastern half of 12,307-foot high, Pahto, also known as Mount Adams. The northern boundary drops off the crests of the Cascade Mountains, down onto and following Ahtanum Ridge eastward to where the Yakima River becomes the eastern boundary. Toppenish Ridge encloses the reservation as its southern border. The eastern portion of the Yakama Nation contains approximately 600,000 acres of forest. The lower, eastern basin is under the rain shadow of the Cascades, a dry landscape of sagebrush steppe, irrigated by mountain runoff. |
| Population/Enrollment: | The Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation consists of 10,200 (2011) enrolled tribal members. In 1855, tribal peoples of the Columbia Plateau signed a treaty with the United States, including those who were to become known as the Yakama Nation. The people who became tribal members are originally the Li-ay-was, Kow-was-say-ee, Kah-milt-pah, Oche-chotes, Klickitat, Se-ap-cat, Klinquit, Shyiks, Palouse, Wenatshapam, Yakama, Skinpah, Pisquose and Wishram peoples. |
| Enterprises: | Yakama Nation Forest Products, Yakama Nation Legends Casino, Yakama Nation Cultural Center, Yakama Nation Resort RV Park, Yakama Nation Land Enterprise, Yakama Nation Wildlife, Yakama Nation Gaming Commission, Yakama Power, Yakama Nation Fruit and Produce, Yakama Nation Networks |
| Schools (Public/Tribal): | Toppenish School District Granger School District #204 Wapato School District Yakama Nation Tribal School Klickitat School District #402 Lyle School District #406 Glenwood School District #401 Wishram School District #94 Mount Adams School District Ellensburg School District Zillah School Disrict Goldendale School District Wahluke School District Yakima School District |
| Reservation map: | |
| Yakama Nation Tribal Council: | Chairman: JoDe L. Goudy Vice-Chairwoman: Delano Saluskin Secretary: Athena Sanchey-Yallup Assistant Secretary: Gerald Lewis Sargent at Arms: Ash Washines Council Member: Asa Washines Council Member: Delano Saluskin Council Member: Frank Mesplie Council Member: Raymond Smartlowit Council Member: Richard George Council Member: Ruth Jim Council Member: Sam Jim Sr. Council Member: Virgil Lewis Council Member: Vivian Babs George |
The Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation
| Contact information: | Colville Tribes P.O. Box 150, Nespelem, WA 99155 Phone: 509-634-2238 Fax: 509-634-2276 |
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| State Legislative District: | Washington Legislative Districts 7 and 12 |
| Congressional District: | Washington Congressional District 5 |
| Counties: | Southeastern section of Okanogan County and the southern half of Ferry County. Other pieces of Trust lands are in Chelan County. |
| Reservation description: | The Colville Reservation is located in north-central Washington State, consisting of 11.4 million acres and is bordered on the west by the Okanogan River and to the south and west by Lake Roosevelt and the Columbia River. The northern boundary runs in a straight line from north of Omak and ends north of the community of Inchelium. There are small parcels of trust lands located in Chelan County. The reservation is located on the Okanogan Highlands with elevations ranging from 790 feet to 6,774 feet at the summit of Mount Moses. |
| Population/Enrollment: | There are approximately 9,486 enrolled tribal members who are descendants of 12 tribes and bands: Colville, Nespelem, San Poil, The Lake, Palus, Wenatchi, Chelan, Entiat, Methow, Okanogan, Moses Columbia and Nez Perce of Chief Joseph's Band. About 60percent of those members reside on the Colville reservation. |
| Enterprises: | The Colville Tribal Federal Corporation employs 800 people and generates $120 million in revenue by managing 13 enterprises that include recreation, gaming, tourism, construction, wood products and retail. |
| Schools (Public/Tribal): | Higher Education Office Inchelium Headstart Keller Headstart Nespelem Headstart Inchelium School District #70 Columbia School District #206 Keller School District #3 Republic School District #309 Wilbur School District #200 Nespelem School District #14 Grand Coulee Dam School District Pascal Sherman Indian School Omak School District #19 Okanogan School District |
| Reservation map: |
The Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation
| Contact information: | Nixy'aawii Governance Center Communications Department |
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| State Legislative District: | Oregon State House Districts 57, 58 Oregon State Senate District 29 |
| Congressional District: | Oregon Congressional District 2 |
| Counties: | Umatilla County |
| Reservation description: | The Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation is home to the Walla Walla, Umatilla and Cayuse peoples. The reservation consists of 172,882 acres of which 52 percent is owned by tribal members and 48% is non-Indian owned. The reservation is adjacent to the towns of Pendleton, Adams, Weston and Pilot Rock, Oregon, and includes the bottom lands, foothills and higher forests of the Blue Mountains. |
| Population/Enrollment: | 2,965 tribal members with approximately half these tribal members living on or near the Umatilla reservation. About 300 Indians of other tribes also call the Umatilla reservation home. About 1,500 non-Indians reside on the reservation as well. |
| Enterprises: | Wildhorse Casino, Arrowhead Travel Plaza, Ataw Consulting, LLC, Business Development Services, Cayuse Technologies, Coyote Business Park, CTUIR Tribal Native Plant Nursery, Indian Lake, Mission Market, Tama'stslikt Cultural Institute, Yaka Energy |
| Schools (Public/Tribal): | Cay-Uma-Wa Head Start Program Nixya'awii High School Pendleton School District Athena Weston-School District #29RJ Pilot Rock School District |
| Reservation map: |
The Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation
| Contact information: | Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation, Main Agency Offices 1233 Veterans Street, P.O. Box C, Warm Springs, OR 97761 Phone: 541-553-1161 |
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| State Legislative District: | Oregon State House District 59 Oregon State Senate District 30 |
| Congressional District: | Oregon State Congressional District 2 |
| Counties: | Jefferson County |
| Reservation description: | The reservation that the Tribes control has a land area of 1,000 square miles. |
| Population/Enrollment: | The Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation has 4,800 enrolled tribal members, of which 3,700 live on the reservation (2008). The Tribes are governed by an 11-member Tribal Council, of which three serve lifetime positions on council as Chiefs of the three Tribes that have been conducting their affairs through a constitutional government since 1938. Eight Tribal Council Members are elected per district and serve for three years. |
| Enterprises: | Warm Springs Ventures, Warm Springs FAA UAS Test Range, Construction Enterprise, Warm Springs Credit Enterprise, Warm Springs Cannabis, Warm Springs Geo Visions, High Lookee Lodge, Indian Head Casino, Kah-Nee-Ta Resort and Spa, The Museum at Warm Springs, Warm Composite Products, Warm Springs Power and Water Enterprises, Warm Springs Telecom |
| Schools (Public/Tribal): | Warms Springs K-8 Academy Madras High School |
| Reservation map: |
The Kalispel Tribe of Indians
| Contact information: | Kalispel Tribal Headquarters P.O. 39 Usk, Washington 99180 Phone: 509-445-1147 Fax: 509-445-1705 |
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| State Legislative District: | Washington Legislative District 7 |
| Congressional District: | Washington Congressional District 5 |
| Counties: | Pend Oreille County, Spokane County |
| Reservation description: | The Kalispel reservation was established in 1914 and consisted of seven-square miles on the eastern bank of the Pend Oreille River near the towns of Usk and Cusick, Washington. Since that time four-square miles have been added including a half square mile within the city of Airway Heights, Washington. The Kalispel Tribe holds an additional five-and-one-half-square miles of forest and natural resource property in northeast Washington and north Idaho. The main reservation is made up of 4,654 acres. Originally, Lake Pend'Orieille, Priest Lake and the plains of northwestern Montana are made up the Kalispel homeland. |
| Population/Enrollment: | The Kalispel Tribe currently consists of 450 members with approximately one-third residing on the reservation. Many tribal members reside on the neighboring county of Spokane and throughout Pend Oreille County. The tribal members are of the Lower Kalispels. The Upper Kalispel tribesmen now reside on the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Reservation in Montana, where they are known as the Pend'Orieille and on the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation in north central Washington. |
| Enterprises: | Northern Quest Casino, Kaltran - Tribal Transit, Camas Center for Community Wellness, Kalispel Kafe, Kalispel Agricultural Enterprise |
| Schools (Public/Tribal): | Kalispel Tribe Director of Education Kalispel Tribe Higher Education Office Cusick School District #59 Kalispel Career Training Center Camas Learning Center |
| Reservation map: |
The Kootenai Tribe of Idaho
| Contact information: | Kootenai Tribe of Idaho P.O. Box 1269, Bonners Ferry, Idaho 83805 Phone: 208-267-3519 Fax: 208-267-2960 |
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| State Legislative District: | Idaho Legislative District 1 |
| Congressional District: | Idaho Congressional District 1 |
| Counties: | Boundary County |
| Reservation description: | The Kootenai Indian Reservation was originally established in 1896. After suffering significant land loss, the Kootenai people declared war on the United States on September 20, 1974. Following this, 12.5 acres were deeded to them by Executive Order. Currently, the Kootenai Tribe of Idaho has land holdings consisting of 3,985 acres in and around Bonners Ferry, Idaho. |
| Population/Enrollment: | The Kootenai Tribe of Idaho has 252 enrolled members with approximately 75 to 80 members residing on the reservation. The Kootenai Tribe of Idaho is one of seven bands of Kootenai including: Lower Kootenai Band in Creston, BC, St Mary's Band of Cranbrook, BC, Columbia Lake Band in Windemere, BC, Shushwap Band, in Invermere, BC, Tobacco Plains Band in Grasmere, BC, and the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribe in Elmo, Montana. |
| Enterprises: | Kootenai River Inn Casino and Spa, Twin Rivers Canyon Resort and Burbot Hatchery |
| Schools (Public/Tribal): | Boundary County School District #101 Bonners Ferry High School Boundary County Middle School Naples Elementary School Mount Hall Elementary School Valley View Elementary School |
| Reservation map: |
Nez Perce Tribe
| Contact information: | The Nez Perce Tribe P.O. Box 305, Lapwai, Idaho 83540 Phone: 208-843-2253 Fax: 208-843-7354 |
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| State Legislative District: | Idaho State Legislative Districts 6 and 7 |
| Congressional District: | Idaho Congressional District 1 |
| Counties: | Nez Perce County, Lewis County, Clearwater County, Idaho County |
| Reservation description: | The Nez Perce Indian Reservation is located between the lower Clearwater and Salmon River drainages in north central Idaho. The reservation is comprised of 770,453 acres of which 385,227 acres is considered cropland, 261,954 acres of grazing land and 100,159 acres is forestland. Of this acreage, the Nez Perce Tribe and Nez Perce tribal members own approximately 13 percent. Traditional Nez Perce territory consisted of over 17 million acres and covered northeast Oregon, Southeastern Washington, north central Idaho and the buffalo country of Montana and Wyoming. |
| Population/Enrollment: | Nez Perce Tribal enrolled members number 3,542 (2014) with approximately 2,000 tribal members residing on the reservation. The total population of the Nez Perce reservation is 18,437. The Nimi'ipuu (Nez Perce) people originate from two bands, the lower Nimi'ipuu of the Wallowa, Oregon Valley and the Upper Nimi'ipuu of the Clearwater River and lower Salmon River mountains and valleys. |
| Enterprises: | Clearwater River Casino/Hotel, It'SeYeYe Casino, Nez Perce Express Store, Camas Express Store, Aht'wy Plaza RV Park, Nez Perce Forest Products |
| Schools (Public/Tribal): | Nez Perce Tribe Early Childhood Development Program Lewis-Clark Early Childhood Program Lapwai School District #341 Lapwai Elementary Lapwai High School Culdesac Joint School District #342 Highland Joint School District #305 Nezperce School District #302 Cavendish-Teaken Elementary Peck Elementary Orofino Elementary Orofino Jr. High School Timberline Schools, P-12 |
| Reservation map: | |
| References: | UI Extension, Nez Perce County |
Shoshone-Bannock Tribes
| Contact information: | Shoshone-Bannock Tribes Headquarters P.O. Box 306, Fort Hall, Idaho 83203 Phone: 208-478-3700 |
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| State Legislative District: | Idaho State Legislative Districts 28, 29, 31 |
| Congressional District: | Idaho Congressional District 2 |
| Counties: | Bannock County, Bingham County, Caribou County, Power County |
| Reservation description: | The Shoshone-Bannock people reside on the Fort Hall Indian Reservation of southeast Idaho. The reservation spans 540,764 acres and is 97% Indian owned. The reservation is divided into five tribal legislative districts: Fort Hall, Ross Fork, Gibson, Bannock Creek and Lincoln. The Fort Hall reservation was established July 2, 1863, by the Treaty of Fort Bridger. The original reservation land base of 1.8 million acres was ceded two times to its present size. |
| Population/Enrollment: | The Shoshone-Bannock Tribes have 5,854 enrolled members with 4,038 members residing on the Fort Hall Indian Reservation. There are 1,826 non-Indians living on the Fort Hall reservation. The Fort Hall Shoshone are descended from the Lemhi, Bruneau, Weiser, Sheep Eater, Boise Valley and Wind River Shoshone. The Bannock, as well as the Shoshone, have relations throughout the state of Nevada, Utah and Warm Springs, Oregon. |
| Enterprises: | Shoshone-Bannock Enterprises Bannock Peak Casino, Buffalo Enterprise, Bannock Peak Truck Stop, Clothes Horse, Smoke House, T.P. Gas Station, Trading Post Grocery |
| Schools (Public/Tribal): | Shoshone-Bannock Early Childhood Headstart Chief Tahgee School District #483 Chief Tahgee Elementary Academy Shoshone-Bannock School District #512 or 537 Shoshone-Bannock Junior / Senior High School Vaughn Hughie Early Childhood Center Irving Kindergarten Center Fort Hall Elementary Groveland Elementary Donald D. Stalker Elementary I.T. Stoddard Elementary Wapello Elementary Blackfoot Sixth Grade School Mountain View Middle School Summit Middle School Blackfoot High School Independence High School Pocatello/Chubbuck School District #25 Chubbuck Elementary Edahow Elementary Ellis Elementary Gate City Elementary Greenacres Elementary Indian Hills Elementary Jefferson Elementary Lewis and Clark Elementary Lincoln Center/Early Intervention Montessori Elementary Syringa Elementary Tendoy Elementary Tyhee Elementary Washington Elementar Wilcox Elementary Alameda Middle School Century High School Franklin Middle School Hawthorne Middle School Highland High School Irving Middle School New Horizons (Alternative) Pocatello High School |
| Reservation map: | |
| References: | Shoshone Bannock Fort Hall Reservation |
Shoshone-Paiute Tribes of the Duck Valley Indian Reservation
| Contact information: | Shoshone-Paiute Tribal Headquarters Tribal Headquarters |
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| State Legislative District: | Idaho State Legislative District 23 Nevada State Legislative Rural District 8 |
| Congressional District: | Idaho Congressional District 1 Nevada Congressional District 2 |
| Counties: | Owyhee County, Idaho Elko County, Nevada |
| Reservation description: | The Shoshone-Paiute Reservation, also known as the Duck Valley Indian Reservation, consists of 280,071 acres and is located on the southern boundary of Idaho and the northern state line of Nevada. The East Fork of the Owyhee River flows through the reservation providing irrigated water through the Wildhorse Reservoir to 12,800 acres of tribal farmland. Sheep Creek, Mountain View and Billy Shaw Reservoirs, supplied by snow melt are on the Shoshone-Paiute lands. Approximately 80% of tribal members utilize reservation lands for farming and ranching. The central community is Owyhee, 97 miles south of Mountain Home, Idaho, and 98 miles north of Elko, Nevada. |
| Population/Enrollment: | Tribal enrollment is 2,132 with approximately 1,200 tribal members living on the reservation. Enrolled members are descendants of the Western Shoshone and Northern Paiute, who once lived in Oregon, southern Idaho and northern Nevada. Blood relatives of the Shoshone-Paiute include members of the Warm Springs Tribes of Oregon, the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes of southeastern Idaho, the Wind River, Wyoming, Shoshones and the scattered Shoshone-Paiute Colonies throughout Nevada. |
| Enterprises: | Our Grocery Store, Economic Development Corporation, Ace Hardware Store, Treasure Valley Development Corporation, Shoshone-Paiute Tribes 101 Ranch |
| Schools (Public/Tribal): | Owyhee Combined School, Elko County School District 100 Academic Way, Owyhee, Nevada 89832 Phone: 775-757-3400 |
| Reservation map: |
Spokane Tribe of Indians
| Contact information: | Spokane Tribe of Indians 6195 Ford-Wellpinit Road, P.O. Box 100, Wellpinit, Washington 99040 Phone: 509-458-6500 |
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| State Legislative District: | Washington State Legislative District 7 |
| Congressional District: | Washington Congressional District 5 |
| Counties: | Stevens County |
| Reservation description: | The Spokane Tribe's reservation is bounded by the Columbia River to the east, the Spokane River to the south, Tshimokiane Creek to the east and the northern boundary is approximately 1/4 mile north of the 48th Parallel. The Spokane reservation consists of nearly 159,000 acres of which 108,874 acres is forest land, 8,552 acres of agricultural land, 10,328 acres of lakes and 145 acres of Trust land in Spokane County adjacent to the community of Airway Heights. The reservation was created in January 1881 by Executive Order, reducing Spokane ancestral lands from what was once three million acres. |
| Population/Enrollment: | The Spokane Tribe has 2,849 enrolled members with 1,228 members residing on the reservation. The Spokane people, formerly composed of three bands: The Lower, Middle and Upper; made their living from fishing, hunting and gathering. After the loss of tribal lands and the designation of the small, present day Spokane reservation, the three bands of Spokanes’ were split. Displaced Spokanes’ found homes on the Coeur d'Alene, Colville and Montana Flathead reservations, where their descendants reside today. |
| Enterprises: | Spokane Casinos and Resorts: Chewelah Casino, Two Rivers Casino, Two Rivers Resort (Marina and Campground); Spoko Fuel Stations: Chewelah, Two Rivers, Marina, Wellpinit, West Plains; Food Services: Airway Heights Arby's, Chewelah Chester Chicken, Two Rivers Spoko Deli, Wellpinit Trading Post Deli; Other Enterprises: Spokane Tribal Credit Agency, Spoko Construction LLC, T Creek LLC, Wellpinit Trading Post |
| Schools (Public/Tribal): | Wellpinit School District Wellpinit Elementary School Wellpinit High School / Middle School Reardan-Edwall School District Columbia School District # 206 Mary Walker School District |
| Reservation map: |