Welcome to the Payne Family Native American Center (PFNAC)
A home away from home — dedicated to honoring Montana’s native nations, celebrating Indigenous cultures, and supporting students on their educational journeys. Here, we foster community, respect, and connection rooted in rich traditions and vibrant futures all while writing your own story.
Greeting's/Welcome's in Montana's Tribe's Language's: (Not in any particular order) Ksanka-Ktunaxa, Salish, Blackfeet, Kalispell, Cree, Crow, Aaaninin, Nakoda, N. Cheyenne, Chippewa, Little Shell; all circling a around 4 tipi's
Actions Over Words: Our Land Acknowledgments
This building is not a symbol — it is a commitment.
The Payne Family Native American Center exists not to decorate, but to confront — to reverse erasure, uphold culture, and serve future generations.
We recognize that honoring Indigenous nations requires more than words — it requires presence, education, and action.
We are located on the traditional, unceded lands of the Ktunaxa–Ksanka and other indigenous peoples who have stewarded this region since time immemorial. This region has long served as a place of gathering, trade, and travel for many other tribes as well, including the Amskapii Pikanii, Selis, Qlispe, Nimiipuu, Newe, and Panákwati (Bannock) peoples.
To learn more about our location and commitments, expand the sections below.
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The Payne Family Native American Center is located on the traditional, unceded lands of the Ktunaxa – Ksanka and many other indigenous peoples who have stewarded this land since tome immemorial. This region has long served as a place of gathering, trade, and travel for many other tribes as well, like; the Amskapii Pikanii, Séliš, and Qĺispé, the Nimiipuu, Newe, and Panákwati (Bannock) peoples.
This building exists within a Western academic institution that has historically played a role in the erasure and misrepresentation of Native peoples and knowledge. Yet this space stands as part of the work to challenge and change that legacy. It reflects presence, resilience, and community.
The Payne Center is more than just a building — it is a place of learning, support, and belonging. It is a home away from home for Indigenous students, and a space where culture, language, and identity are not only welcomed but central.
Funded by private donors and the state of Montana, the building affirms the University of Montana’s commitment to Indigenous communities — in this region and beyond. Its design and purpose reflect the histories, traditions, and vibrant cultures of Montana’s tribal nations.
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The University of Montana is located on the traditional, unceded lands of the Ktunaxa – Ksanka and many other indigenous peoples who have stewarded this land since tome immemorial. This region has long served as a place of gathering, trade, and travel for many other tribes as well, like; the Amskapii Pikanii, Séliš, and Qĺispé, the Nimiipuu, Newe, and Panákwati (Bannock) peoples.
We recognize and honor the deep, ongoing relationships Indigenous communities maintain with this land — relationships rooted in knowledge, care, and responsibility. Their stewardship continues to guide how we care for this place and each other, for the well-being of future generations.
Building Hours
- Building open: 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m., Monday–Friday
- Fully operational (including computer lab): 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., Monday–Friday
PFNAC at a Glance
The buildings three stories include an open rotunda with wood floors and windows spanning the entire height of the first two stories, classrooms, conference rooms, an Ethnobotanical garden, an outdoor fire pit, and even a planetarium. All embossed in a Art work that spans many different tribes and art forms as way to remain inclusive to all tribes in montana and beyond.
You can find the PFNAC just off the Ovals South West quadrant as the rotund ceiling protrudes thought the trees paired with the natural plains grass – resembling a lodge in the valley floor facing east.