The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes of Montana celebrated the 30th anniversary of the creation of the Mission Mountains Tribal Wilderness.

The decision to establish the 93,000-acre wilderness was the first of its kind of Indian Country. Tribal leaders were motivated by three grandmothers who said the land deserved to be protected from timber harvesting and other development.

“It’s the most pristine place in the United States I’ve ever been to,” council member Reuben Mathias told The MIssoulian. “I’m so proud of us for doing that.”

The tribe held a celebration on Thursday to mark the 30th anniversary of the wilderness.

Get the Story:
CSKT officials, others mark 30th anniversary of Mission Mountains Tribal Wilderness (The Missoulian 6/15)