Salish-Bitterroot Youth Cultural Exchange

Traveler’s Rest State Park near Lolo is hosting  a youth cultural exchange this week that will pair middle school students from the Bitterroot Valley with youth from the Flathead Reservation to learn about the Salish history of the valley. Twenty four seventh grade students and many of their parents will spend four days with Elders from the reservation and valley. Executive Director of  the Bitter Root Resource Conservation and Development program Becky Koon says the Elders will share   stories and places that will help the kids  learn more about the history and culture of the Bitterroot Valley.

The public is invited to view camp closing ceremonies at Travelers’ Rest State Park from 12:30p.m.-1p.m. on Saturday, July 16.

The entire interview with Executive Director of  the Bitter Root Resource Conservation and Development program Becky Koon is here:

Camp participants will also create a photo display of their experience that will be on display at the state park visitor center through the middle of August.  The camp participants will also create the first phase of a replica Salish encampment in the riparian area along Lolo Creek as part of a service project at the park.

To reach the state park to take part in the closing ceremonies or to view the photo display, travel approximately ½ mile west of Lolo on Highway 12 to the park entrance. Travelers’ Rest State Park hours are 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. every day June through August. The Holt Museum and Visitor Center at Travelers’ Rest is open 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. every day.

Other partners that have worked together to make this first annual Salish-Bitterroot Cultural Exchange possible include Bitterroot National Forest, Merging Waters Educational Center, Confederated Salish Kootenai Tribe (CSKT) Cultural Committee, CSKT Tribal Council, CSKT Education Department, Salish Kootenai College, The People’s Center Museum, and numerous other individual volunteers.