ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Little Shell Band of Chippewa Indians

Hello there! So, let's talk about the Little Shell Band of Chippewa Indians!

First, we need to understand that there are many different groups of people who have lived in North America for thousands and thousands of years. These groups are often referred to as Native Americans or Indigenous Peoples. The Chippewa Indians are one of these groups, and they originally lived in what is now known as the Great Lakes region of the United States and Canada.

The Little Shell Band is a specific group of Chippewa people who live in Montana. They have a long history of being a sovereign nation, meaning they have their own government and laws. However, for many years they were not recognized as a tribe by the United States government, which meant they did not have access to certain resources and rights that other tribes did.

In 2019, after many years of fighting for recognition, the Little Shell Band was finally officially recognized by the United States government as a tribe. This means they can now access resources and rights that were previously unavailable to them.

So, in summary, the Little Shell Band of Chippewa Indians are a group of indigenous people who live in Montana and have a long history of being a sovereign nation. After many years of fighting for recognition, they were finally recognized by the United States government as a tribe in 2019.