1800 – 1830

Trading posts are established within Ktunaxa territory and foreigners are beginning to be seen regularly throughout the region.

The buffalo on the prairies are hunted almost to extinction for their hides. This loss of a primary food source meant that the First Nations are becoming more reliant on alternatives, such as fish. At the same time, a commercial salmon fishery is being established at the mouth of the Columbia River and the Ktunaxa begin to notice a decline in the number of fish returning to spawn. The Columbia River salmon are a major food source to many tribes.