Only woman to declare war against the United States of America

Born in Bonners Ferry, Idaho April 26, 1936 Amelia "Amy" Trice was the daughter of Helen and Baptiste Cutsack. She attended the Kootenai (KOOT-nee) Tribal School, Chemewa Indian School, and Bonners Ferry Public School. Although she contracted tuberculosis during her childhood and required periodic sanitarium treatment, she completed her education, and when she was only 20, she served as secretary on the Tribal Council.

She married Xavier Aitken in 1954. The couple had six children but their marriage failed. In 1969 she married David Trice.

For religious reasons, the tribe had resisted moving onto a reservation, but by 1974 the poverty-stricken membership had dwindled to only 67 persons. Trice stated during a media interview that the tribe had nothing at the time, and that there were no jobs available.

Trice was encouraged to run for tribal chairperson. She was elected, and hired Doug Wheaton, her "right hand man" as tribal representative. The two sent letters to the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) but were told that, to qualify for housing grants and to rebuild their highway that was in great disrepair, they needed a minimum of 125 tribal members.

Angered, with no other options and on the verge of tribal collapse, Trice decided to declare war-albeit a nonviolent one-on the United States.

Most tribes are prohibited under treaty from declaring war on the U.S. government, but the Kootenai never signed such a treaty. So, in 1976 the tribe sold Kootenai Nation War Bonds at one dollar each. The bonds, bearing the signatures of both Trice and Wheaton, contained a brief Declaration of War statement against the United States.

The tribal members' 'war' was an implementation of an inventive method popular during the African Americans' 1950s-1960s fight for social justice: the Kootenai formed informational picket lines at each end of U.S. Highway 95 that runs through Bonners Ferry. They asked politely for a 10-cent toll to drive through what had once been the tribe's ancestral land to help toward care for tribal elders.

After a standoff of several weeks, with neither Trice nor law enforcement officials willing to give in, she led a delegation to Washington, D.C. After talks with then-President Gerald Ford, 12.5 acres of federal land were transferred to the tiny tribe for a reservation outside Bonners Ferry; it has now expanded to approximately 4,000 acres.

The action garnered much more attention than the Kootenai expected-not only was it a national news item, it was reported as far away as Israel, Germany, France and Ireland.

The protest accomplished even more than its goal. In addition to the land they requested, they also gained 18 new houses, a community center, improved water and sewage systems, and in 1996 opened the Kootenai River Casino which brought in badly needed income.

Also involved in environmental preservation, the tribe operates a hatchery to enable the endangered Kootenai River white sturgeon to recover. The effort became symbolic to the Kootenai, who have seen their own membership increase to 155 persons.

For her accomplishments, Trice was presented the Chairman's Award from the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, and the Women of Color Alliance Breaking Barriers for Women of Color in Idaho Award.

She was a founding member of Upper Columbia United Tribes (UCUT) and other organizations for women's and Native people's welfare.

Trice was a member of St. Ann's Catholic Church and the Altar Society and participated in cultural exchanges with the congregation's non-Native women.

She is also the subject of a documentary by Sonja Rosario, Idaho's Forgotten War. A Lost tale of Courage, which Rosario called "a testament to what one can do and will do when you love and are committed to your community."

"The Last War Leader Against the United States," Amelia Cutsack Trice died on July 21, 2011, after an even greater war against cancer. She left a legacy of nonviolent use of the existing system to achieve justice, and is also credited with helping to open doors in leadership for Native American women.

As far as is known, Amelia "Amy" Cutsack Trice is the only woman in U.S. history to declare war against the United States government.

References:

Bonners Ferry Herald Online, Amelia "Amy" Cutsack Trice, 75, Obituaries, Thursday, August 4, 2011

ICTMN Staff, Native American Kootenai leader walks on, July 25, 2012

McNeel, Jack, Today Correspondent, The Kootenai Tribe's Forgotten War, August 24, 2010

Wikipedia.org., Kootenai Tribe of Idaho

A version of this article appears in 100+ Native American Women Who Changed the World by KB Schaller, Winner, 2014 International Book Award, Women's Issues category, and other awards. Schaller's books are available through Amazon.com and most major book sellers. She lives in South Florida. Contact: soaring-eagles@msn.com; http://www.KBSchaller.com