About Kyiyo

About

The Kyiyo Native American Student Association plays an integral role in promoting the cultural traditions and customs of all Native Americans. Through many extra-curricular activities throughout the year, Kyiyo hopes to engage the faculty and students of the University of Montana in the cultural identities of Native Americans to support cultural diversity on campus. Kyiyo is open to any Native American and non-native students, as well as any community members who wish to become members. The club is a chartered member of the Associated Students of the University of Montana (ASUM).

The club meets every Friday in the Payne Family Native American Center. Meetings entail planning many events throughout the year including one of the oldest and largest student hosted Pow Wows in the nation. With more than five thousand attendees from across the nation, our celebration continues to grow each and every year. Other events include the annual Kyiyo Basketball Tournament, Coldwater Grizzly Dip, and participation with International Food Festival and events during American Indian Heritage Day.

History

In the early 1950s, a small group of Native American students formed a Native American Club for the purposes of mutual support and promoting awareness of Native American issues. The club eventually became very active and evolved into a larger, more formal organization in the mid 1960s. In keeping with the University's symbol of the grizzly bear, the club chose the name "Kyi Yo," meaning bear in the Blackfoot language.

Since 1968, the Kyiyo Native American Student Association continues to host one of the oldest, largest student sponsored Pow Wows in that nation with over five thousand attendees each and every year. The celebration has slowly evolved into what it represents today and continues to promote the cultural traditions of Native Americans.

With an average enrollment of over 600 Native American students, the University of Montana perennially has the largest enrollment of Native Ameriacn students in the Montana University System. The Kyiyo Native American Student Association plays an integral role in promoting the cultural traditions of Native Americans. Through many extra-curricular activities throughout the year, Kyiyo hopes to engage the faculty and students of the University of Montana in the cultural identities of Native Americans to support cultural diversity on campus.