The Gros Ventres are an Algonquian-speaking people from the area of the Great Plains between the Missouri River, Montana, and the Saskatchewan River in the Canadian Prairies. Their own name is A'ani, meaning "Clay People," derived from their belief that they were made from white clay found on the river bottoms.
Earliest mention of the Gros Ventres places them in the region of the Saskatchewan River in the eighteenth century, far removed from their kindred, the Arapahos. When and where these two tribes split is not known. As the Gros Ventres ventured farther west and south, they quickly adopted the lifestyle of the Northern Plains. They became mobile and followed the buffalo herds for their primary source of food and clothing. They lived in easily moved teepees and excelled at the elaborate and beautiful beadwork and quillwork of that region
Unlike many other Northern Plains tribes, the Gros Ventres generally remained on good terms with non-Indians. They patronized the American traders at Fort McKenzie and were considered among the more receptive tribes in the region
Gold was discovered in what is now Montana in 1862, bringing more and more non- Indians through the hunting territories that supported the Blackfeet, Assiniboines, Crows, and Gros Ventres. The completion of the Union Pacific Railroad in 1869, and the Northern Pacific Railroad in 1883, brought increasing numbers of settlers and made the region less remote. The impact of such rapid settlement greatly reduced the game herds, particularly the bison, already dwindling in numbers. The last of the buffalo herds had disappeared from the Northern Plains by the time the Gros Ventres were confined to the Fort Belknap Reservation in north-central Montana in 1888. At that time, their population stood at 964, and their tribal numbers fell to a low of 576 in 1900. (Encyclopedia of the Great Plains)
Note- All caches are on BLM property and well away from any historically significant sites. Please play responsibly and consider your surroundings. Please don't leave litter and if you find any pack it out if possible. Most caches are of the same type, unless specifically noted on the cache page, which should help in finding them. The BLM has been very helpful to the geocaching community by allowing this art to be placed, so lets kindly return the favor. This is meant to be a walking series. Quoting from Billionj- Vehicles within the natural desert are environmentally deleterious and will give the environmental groups a reason to restrict geocaching, besides, it’s just plain rude. So, please stay on designated roads and trails and avoid using motor vehicles in wet and muddy areas. Caches may or may not have a writing implement, so be sure to bring your own.
Note #2- This is meant to be a fun exercise. All of the caches are meant to be found with just a little effort. If you notice one is missing or a log is full, please feel free to take care of needed maintenance so the next cacher will be able to make the find. Thank you, thank you very much.
*In today's society it is sometimes hard not to offend someone by our choice of words. Please be patient with any mistakes that I have made.