The Pend d’Oreilles, also known as the Kalispel, are Indigenous peoples of the Northwest Plateau. Their traditional territory was around Lake Pend Oreille, as well as the Pend Oreille River, and Priest Lake. Today many of them live in Montana and eastern Washington. The primary tribal range from roughly Plains, Montana, westward along the Clark Fork River, Lake Pend Oreille in Idaho, and the Pend Oreille River in eastern Washington and into British Columbia (Canada) was given the name Kaniksu by the Kalispel peoples.
They are generally divided geographically and culturally in the Upper Kalispel (Upper Pend d’Oreilles) and the Lower Kalispel (Lower Pend d’Oreilles). Upper Kalispel people are enrolled in the federally recognized Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes of the Flathead Nation in Montana. The Lower Kalispel people are enrolled in the Kalispel Tribe of Indians in Washington.
Some Pend d'Oreilles are also enrolled in the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation in Washington.
