American Indian Heritage Day

September 23, 2021

The fourth Friday in September is designated as American Indian Heritage Day in the state of Montana to “(1) reflect on American Indian culture and heritage; and (2) celebrate American Indians and their culture and heritage …”

Here at UM, this day holds special significance. While we benefit from and value every day our American Indian colleagues, students, retirees and alumni – and pay tribute to the fact that our campus sits in the aboriginal territories of the Salish and Kalispel people – on Friday, Sept. 24, we will pause to recognize and celebrate the significant contributions American Indians have made to our institution, our state, our country and our world.

I invite you all to commemorate the day by participating in one of UM’s many planned events:

10-11 a.m. – Lodge Raising

  • On the Oval in front of the Payne Family Native American Center

11 a.m.-1 p.m. – Ethnobotany Garden Guided Tours and Native Plant Stewardship Information

  • Ethnobotany Garden outside of the Payne Family Native American Center

11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. – Indigenous Meal in the Food Zoo

  • UM Food Zoo, Lommasson Hall (Masks required when not actively eating or drinking.)
  • Cash Price $11.25 (available at the Food Zoo)  |  $9 Bear Bucks  | $3.75 Residential Dining Plans

11:30 a.m.- 1 p.m. – Soup Friday

  • Payne Family Native American Center Rotunda (Masks required when not actively eating or drinking.)

1-2 p.m. – Native American Law Student Association “Legal Grind” Coffee and Discussion

  • Payne Family Native American Center Room 210 (Masks required.)

3-5 p.m. – Planetarium Premiere “The Woman Who Married a Star,” narrated by Leo Bird (Blackfeet)

  • 3 and 4 p.m. showings (40 minutes) with a Q&A to follow each showing (20 minutes)
  • Payne Family Native American Center Room 013 (Masks required.)

3:30-5 p.m. – Featured Speaker: Sammy Matsaw (Shoshone-Bannock/Oglala Lakota)

  • “Building as an Educator and Scientist to Tribal Employment as Co-Founders of River Newe, an Indigenous-Owned Nonprofit Organization”
  • Lecture Tent outside of Urey Lecture Hall (Masks required.)

Special thanks to the many people involved in making today’s events possible, as well as to the campus-based and community sponsors.

Seth