Kootenai Tribe
Kootenai Tribe
Kootenai Tribal Health Facility
PO Box 1269
Bonners ID 83805
Phone: (208) 267-3519
Fax: 208-267-2960
Webpage: http://www.kootenai.org/
About the Clinic
Facilities/Services Planning
MISSION
To promote and facilitate engineering planning and construction support for the IHS national facilities program by developing and enhancing relationships among Tribes, area offices, and Service Unit engineers and related professionals dealing in building health care systems.
Attainment of the IHS and DHHS missions
The DFPC mission is achieved by:
* Maintaining a priority list based on relative need.
* Supporting tribes when they choose to assume facilities-related responsibilities.
* Planning health care and associated facilities to minimize facility life-cycle costs.
* Planning, promoting, & constructing improvements to exist. Facilities where they are not optimally functional.
* Planning & constructing new facilities when existing facilities do not exist or cannot be effectively improved.
* Developing state-of-the-art facilities with efficient and effective facilities planning.
* Targeting the unmet need with limited resources for maximum effectiveness.
DFPC Vision
To be a Global Health Care Facilities Engineering Division leading cutting edge professionalism in support of Public Health advances and development of solutions to the Indian Health Service challenges.
Location
Their facility is the Kootenai Tribal Clinic. Providers contracted include 1 physician, 1 physician assistant, 1 LPN, 1 CHR, 1 medical social worker, mental health specialist. These positions are direct tribal hires. Care is covered by contract health. CHR, Alcohol, Dental and Well-Child Program. The total patient population is 300.
About the Tribe
History
Historically, the Kootenai bands occupies territories along the Kootenai River, in parts of Montana, Idaho and British Columbia. Although they did not share a common language with any other group, they were closely aligned with the Flatheads and the Kalispel Pend Oreilles by common territories and intermarriage. Their culture was of the “Basin” type found in the Columbia Basin area. Their 
lifestyle was dependent on hunting, fishing, and gathering of roots and berries. The mainstay of their diet was salmon, starchy roots and bulbs. Theirs was a semi-nomadic culture, with permanent winter villages near good fishing sites. Their social structure was based on the extended family groupings. Clothing was made from woven bark and plant fibers; lodges were conical huts constructed of a pole framework covered with rush mats. Basketry supplies most of their utensils, including cups, bowls, and storage bags. As with other tribes, the Dawes Act of 1877 let to loss of tribal and individuals allotments they had received from the Treaty of 1855. Much of their original territory is now in the hands of non-Indians. Currently they live on a 2,695 acre reservation. They operate under a constitution written subsequent to the Wheeler-Howard Act. The Kootenai Tribal Council consists of five members, one of which is the Chief with life tenure.
Geography
Reservation occupies 3,985 acres on US 95-2. The city of Bonners Ferry has a population of 1,906, elevation 1,900. Annual rainfall is 24.5 inches with average temperatures of 26 - 68. The reservation is located in Boundary country with a population of 7,500 and the per capita income is $9,701. Principal industries include forest products, tourism, sand and gravel.
Other Information
Members
165 enrolled members.
Other Offices and Programs
They operate a sturgeon hatchery and the Kootenai River Inn in Bonners Ferry which houses a restaurant, gift shop, and spa.
Employees
32 FTE.
Housing
No tribal housing available, housing available in nearby town of Bonners Ferry.
