Spokane Tribe

Spokane Tribe of Indians

Senior Member Donnie Kieffer is an enrolled member of the Spokane Tribe of Indians. The Spokane people are one of the Interior Salish-speaking tribes whose ancestors inhabited approximately 3 million acres in northeastern Washington, extending into Idaho and Montana. Traditionally a river people, the Spokane lived a semi-nomadic way of life along the banks of the Spokane and Columbia rivers and their tributaries. They sustained themselves through hunting, fishing, and gathering — with salmon, steelhead, eel, and shellfish making up approximately 60% of their traditional diet.

In 1858, the Spokane defended their families and homeland during conflicts with U.S. forces. In 1881, President Rutherford B. Hayes established the Spokane Indian Reservation of approximately 154,602 acres. Today, the Spokane Tribe is one of the 574 federally recognized tribal governments in the United States, with primary government operations located in Wellpinit, Washington, serving approximately 2,900 enrolled members. This rich heritage of resilience, stewardship of the land, and community-focused values directly informs our approach to federal contracting — delivering projects with the same care and reliability our ancestors showed in sustaining their people.

Fishing for Salmon along the SpokaneRiver (Pre-1930). Pictured here are two Spokane tribal members (Left: Roy LeBret Right: Bill Wynecoop) after a day of fishing in the Spokane River at LeBret’s Beach (Spokane River). Notice that the man on the left is holding a spear while the man on the right has a rod-and-reel. (Photo located in the Spokane Tribe of Indians Preservation Program Archives.)

First American Federal Contracting is proudly Native American-owned. This heritage of resilience, stewardship, and community focus drives our commitment to integrity and long-term partnerships with federal agencies through the Indian Small Business Economic Enterprise (ISBEE) program.

Page updated

Google Sites

Report abuse