[8] On December 20, 2019, the National Defense Authorization Act was signed into law, finally granting the Tribe federal recognition.

[9] The Tribe owns over 800 acres of land in and around Great Falls, Montana, and manages the Hell Creek Recreation Area.

[13] While headquartered in Great Falls, tribal members live throughout Montana, particularly in Havre, Lewistown, Helena, Butte, Chinook, Hays, Wolf Point, Hamilton, and Billings.

[15][16][citation needed] They allied with the Assiniboine and Cree in a confederacy,[17] driving out the Dakota and probably other tribes native to the areas now known as Alberta, Manitoba, and Ontario in Canada, and Minnesota and Montana in the United States.

[citation needed] The Little Shell are part of the historical Pembina Band of Chippewa Indians, first recorded by European settlers in documents of the Hudson's Bay Company at Fort Garry (Winnipeg) in the early 18th century.

The Pembina walked out of the meeting in disgust, knowing that the US had paid $1.00 per acre for less valuable land near Fort Berthold.

After hearing of the fraud, John Burke, state attorney for Rolette County, North Dakota, agreed to represent Little Shell before the US Senate.

The state recognition process formally incorporated the Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians of Montana.

Little Shell Tribal members can obtain some services available in urban centers as well as public benefits available to all Montana residents.