Strategy 4.2.1 (Interdependence)

Expand and publicly express UM’s interdependence with tribal communities and Montana’s Indigenous peoples.

Owners/Accountable Party

  • President
  • Chief of Staff
  • Tribal Relations Specialist
  • Vice President for Marketing and Communications

Actions

Near-term Actions

  • Explore criteria to become an Indigenous Serving Institution
  • Support NAGPRA efforts in partnership with tribal governments
  • Launch the Elders in Residence Program and provide broad community opportunities to engage and learn
  • Track the Carnegie Foundations development of an Indigenous Serving Institution classification and pursue efforts to qualify
  • Develop a webpage that outlines the history and purpose of the land acknowledgement while emphasizing the need for action
  • Provide guidance to departments/units on land acknowledgement and the importance of demonstrating how the acknowledgment impacts actions
  • Host N7 games on UM campus

Future Actions

Completed and Ongoing Actions

  • Began consultations with Salish Culture Committee to explore updating land acknowledgement
  • Annually hosting the Tribal College Presidents on campus as an opportunity for collaboration and to learn from their expertise and experience
  • Hired a NAGRPA coordinator
  • Secured $1M Mellon grant to support the preservation and sharing of Indigenous knowledge