Shared Symbols, Contested Meanings

Fort Belknap reservation in Montana is home to both the Gros Ventre and Assiniboine Indian tribes. The two thousand inhabitants of the reservation recognize an array of symbols—political, ritual, and sacred—which have meaning and emotional impact for all; yet there is sharp disagreement between the two tribes and among the various age groups about the interpretation of these symbols. Anthropologist Loretta Fowler here examines the history and culture of the Gros Ventres over two centuries, seeking to discover why the residents of Fort Belknap ascribe different and often opposing meanings to their shared cultural symbols and how these differences have influenced Gros Ventre identity.