Piikanisaahkowa Iipiipototsipa – The Lands Made for Piikani
Piikani Archaeology Conference 2026
Theme: Connecting the Past, to the Present, for the Future
Location: UC Ballroom, University of Montana, Missoula, MT
Dates: May 19–20, 2026
“Piikanisaahkowa Iipiipototsipa – The Lands Made for Piikani”
Piikani Archaeology Conference 2026
Connecting The Past, to The Present, for The Future
May 19th & 20th, 2026 - UC Ballroom, U of M, Missoula MT.
May 19th, 2026
7:00am – 8:00am Opening Pipe Ceremony
8:00am – 9:00am Opening Prayer & Breakfast
9:00am – 10:00am Welcoming Address - Provost and V.P. for Academic Affairs for the Of, Adrea Lawrence
-Welcoming Address & Piikani Land Acknowledgement, John Murray –Blackfeet T.H.P.O
-Conference Purpose and Goals, Jerry Potts – Chairman for Iron Shirt Culture & Heritage
10:00am – 10:15am Break (15 minutes)
Conference Organizer’s Opening Remarks & Presentations
10:15am – 11:00am Blackfeet Eco Knowledge Introduction Tyson & Lona Running Wolf
11:00am – 11:30am Iron Shirt Culture & Heritage Society, Troy Crow Shoe
11:30am – 12:00pm Blackfeet T.H.P.O, John Murray & Gheri Hall
12:00 pm – 1:00 pm Lunch
1:00pm – 1:45pm Piikani Archaeology - Dr. Maria Zedeno, University of Arizona
1:45pm – 2:30pm Archaeology along the Madison River in S.W. Montana -
Shannon Gilbert, Rossillon Consulting
2:30pm – 3:00pm High Altitude Site Study - Gheri Hall, Blackfeet T.H.P.O
3:00pm – 3:15pm Break (15 minutes)
3:15pm – 4:00pm Ohkomi Forensics, Hailey Omeasoo, PhD.
4:00pm – 5:00pm Blackfeet Eco Knowledge VR Experience in the UC Ballroom
4:10pm – 5:00pm Planetarium Show #1 at the Payne Family Center,
Zachariah Rides at the Door (registered attendees only)
5:10pm – 6:00pm Planetarium Show #2 at the Payne Family Center,
Zachariah Rides at the Door (registered attendees only)
6:00pm – 7:00pm Dinner will be served – UC Ballroom
Special Acknowledgement
7:00pm – 8:30pm Traditional Blackfoot Women’s Dresses Presentation,
Kent Ayoungman – Siksika Nation, AB. Canada
“Piikanisaahkowa Iipiipototsipa – The Lands Made for Piikani”
Piikani Archaeology Conference 2026
Connecting The Past, to The Present, for The Future
May 19th & 20th, 2026 - UC Ballroom University of Montana, Missoula MT.
Agenda
May 20th, 2026
8:00am – 9:00am Opening Prayer and Breakfast 9:00am - 9:30am Welcoming Address – Academy Award Nominee and Golden Globe winner – Lily Gladstone
Piikani Archaeology Conference Presentations
9:30am – 10:15am Medicine Wheels, and Napi Effigies, Trevor Peck – Sr. Archaeologist with Synergy Land & Environmental Services Ltd.
10:15am – 11:00am “Set in Stone”, Lindsey Amundson – Meyer, Assistant Prof. of Archaeology UofC & Jeremy Leyden PhD Candidate – Archaeology, UofC
11:00am – 11:15am Break (15 minutes)
11:15am – 12:00pm Blackfoot Presence in the Bob Marshall Area, - Arnold “Smoke”
Elser
12:00pm – 1:00pm Lunch
1:00pm – 1:45pm Historical Blackfoot Accounts – Tarissa Spoonhunter, Blackfeet
1:45pm – 2:30pm Blackfoot Traditional Knowledge, Bison Drivelines and Geospacial
Analysis - P.I, Old North Trail LLC. – Kendall Edmo
2:30pm – 3:00pm Conference Summary and Wrap-Up, Karla Bird, Tribal Outreach
University of Montana
3:00pm – 3:30pm Closing Remarks, M.C’s - Kent Ayoungman, Pat Armstrong Jr