The University of Montana main campus sits on occupied Seliš (Say-lish) and Q’lispe (Ka-lis-puh), territory. What we now call Missoula and the Bitterroot Valley sits on territory that the Salish and Pend d’Oraille were forcibly removed from, especially with the Hellgate Treaty of 1865. The resilience of the Confederated Salish-Kootenai tribes should be celebrated, as the descendants of those forcibly removed still remain here. They are students, professors, and friends. We are guests on the land, and thank the tribes for all of their contributions to our community, culture, and environment both past and present. 

We acknowledge as well, the Ksanka (Ksan-guh), Pikuni (Pih-koo-nee), Aspáalooke (up-SAW-low-guh), Nakota (Nah-KOH-tuh), Dakota (Dah-KOH-tuh), Anishinaabe(Ah-nih-shi-NAH-beh), Tsis tsis’tas (Tse-TSES-tas), Numa (Noo-mah), A’ahnenin (Ah-ah-neh-nin), Nêhiyaw-Askiy (Neh-hee-yaw Ah-skee), Nimiipuu (Née-mee-pooh), and Schitsu’umsh (s-CHEET-sue-umsh) tribes and bands who also cared for this land and/or the land around us. 

These tribes are more commonly known as the Kootenai (Koo-ten-nee), Blackfeet, Crow, Assiniboine, Sioux, Little Shell Chippewa, Northern Cheyenne, Shoshone Bannock, Eastern Bannock, Gros Ventre, Plains Cree, Nez Perce, and Couer d’Alene tribes. We acknowledge that we live on stolen land and benefit from settler colonialism. 

https://native-land.ca/  

Beyond acknowledgement, the WGSS program is committed to action. We will continuously learn more about the culture of Native Montanans. We will advocate for decolonization in higher education and help in the work to prevent identity-based harm and violence. As WGSS students and faculty, we will be engaged and respectful allies.