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w w w . d i s t i n c t l y m o n t a n a . c o m
As noted above, this part of Montana
was home to the Blackfeet people. For
much of their history, the Blackfeet were
the primary inhabitants of territory that
stretched from South Dakota's Black
Hills to the Rocky Mountain Front and
from north of Edmonton, Alberta to Yel-
lowstone National Park. As white settle-
ment moved west, the tribe was pushed
both west and north. Treaties of 1855
established reservations across the Pa-
cific Northwest. One of these was for
the Blackfeet. As in so many other cas-
es, white settlement reduced the size of
this reservation to its present boundaries.
With the creation of Glacier and Ponde-
ra Counties, the Blackfeet Indian Reser-
vation lies in both counties. According
to the Pondera County planning docu-
ments, 15.5 percent of Pondera County
land is within the borders of the Reser-
vation.
In the northwestern corner of the county,
near where U.S. Highway 89 crosses the
Two Medicine River, there is a turnout on
the west side of the highway with a large
metal tipi frame and some history signs.
Two of those signs are titled "From One
Perspective" and "From Another Per-
spective." Between the two is a third sign
5k • 10K
Half Marathon
(USATF Certified)
Kids Mini Mile
(New!)
Virtual Options
(New!)
October 18, 2026
Helena, Montana
runhelena.com
REGISTER AT
A family-friendly event
with a fun finish line
celebration.
100% of proceeds
are donated to
two Montana charities.
$121,000 donated
since 2022.
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WHAT DID SURPRISE ME IS THAT OF THE
FIFTY-FIVE COUNTIES THAT PRODUCE POULTRY AND EGGS,
PONDERA COUNTY IS SECOND.
Lake Frances Lighthouse: A lighthouse over Lake Frances at Valier.
Welcome to
Pondera County,
pronounce
pon-duh-RAY.
