 In response , a treaty stating that an Indian reservation would be formed on some of the disputed land while the European @-@ Americans would own the remaining land was signed . The Indian land was later reduced to about 5 @,@ 000 @,@ 000 acres ( 2 @,@ 000 @,@ 000 ha ) . Colville Indian Reservation was developed around 1872 by President Ulysses S. Grant . In 1887 , the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation , a federally recognized tribe , was formed by executive order from 12 individual bands as per the General Allotment Act of 1887 . The federal government decided to move Colville Indian Reservation 's location west of Columbia River , reducing its area to 2 @,@ 800 @,@ 000 acres ( 1 @,@ 100 @,@ 000 ha ) . It would continue to be reduced for the next 60 years . 
