Calispell Lake in Washington State on the Kalispel Reservation

This vibrant lush ambrosial green oasis is the tiny Calispell Lake located across the river from the also tiny First Nations “Pend d’Oreilles” (also known as the Kalispel) Reservation. 

An ancient First Nations Indigenous peoples of the Northwest Plateau, their traditional ancestral territory was located around Lake Pend Oreille, as well as the Pend Oreille River, and Priest Lake.  Today they live in small communities along the Montana and eastern Washington border.

The primary ancestral tribal range was known by the name “Kaniksu” and covered roughly the area around the plains in eastern Montana, and westward along the Clark Fork River, Lake Pend Oreille in Idaho, and the Pend Oreille River in eastern Washington and also into British Columbia (Canada). 

Originally called “Ql̓ispé” (Salish pronunciation: [qəˀlispe], which means "Camas People”, French trappers and traders a few hundred years ago bestowed upon them the name “Pend d’Oreille” ( which meant "hangs from ears") referring to the large shell earrings they commonly wore. 

The modern name “Kalispel” comes from an Anglicization of the name “Ql̓ispé”. The main part of the Kalispel Reservation is northwest of Newport, Washington, in central Pend Oreille County. 

The main reservation is a mere 18.638 square kilometres (7.196 sq mi) strip of land along the Pend Oreille River, west of the Washington–Idaho border. The nearest outside community is Cusick, near the south end of the reservation. 

I lensed this image of Calispell Lake with the Calispell River running out of the Pend Oreille River, (to right of the photo) and flowing south through the watershed wetlands and running out the south end of the small lake. I love how all the vibrant colors from algae and other plant life grows abundantly along the lake shoreline.

This image is  from "Where Eagles Fly - The American Wilderness Expedition" my personal project of exploration in the North American Wilderness.  

I am on a mission to raise awareness of our Iconic Natural Heritage Treasures of North America. If you wish to help spread the word and share these images of our amazing planet, please resteemit !

Yehaw!!