Their culture was of the Basin type found in the Columbia Basin area. Their lifestyle was dependent on hunting, fishing, and gathering of roots and berries. The mainstay of their diet was salmon, starchy roots and bulbs. Theirs was a semi-nomadic culture, with permanent winter villages near good fishing sites. Their social structure was based on the extended family groupings.
Basketry supplies most of their utensils, including cups, bowls, and storage bags.
As with other tribes, the Dawes Act of 1877 let to loss of tribal and individuals allotments they had received from the Treaty of 1855. Much of their original territory is now in the hands of non-Indians. Currently they live on a 2,695 acre reservation. They operate under a constitution written subsequent to the Wheeler-Howard Act. The Kootenai Tribal Council consists of five members, one of which is the Chief with life tenure.