The best way to experience Indian Country is from the Indigenous perspective. Through experiences with a cultural expert at the helm, visitors can explore significant tribal landmarks and traditions, and hear the Native American stories behind them in the way they were meant to be told. Here are some experiences that allow visitors to learn more about the history and culture of tribes in Montana.
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This Indigenous woman- and veteran-owned business offers guided hiking trips through Glacier National Park. With half- and full-day hikes available, you’ll spend the day learning about the park from the perspective of the Blackfeet tribe. On the hike, you’ll practice solitude and reflection while stopping to hear traditional Blackfeet stories and songs, learn survival skills and identify plants.
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Join Native guides to explore important Assiniboine and Gros Ventre sites on the Fort Belknap Reservation. The tours offer an exploration of the rich oral traditions and history of the people who call the reservation home, making for a meaningful cultural experience.
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Take a guided tour of the Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument that gives insight on the Crow people’s perspective of this historical event. This is an air-conditioned bus tour that runs daily between Memorial Day and Labor Day.
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Learn from Native makers how to create traditional Salish and Kootenai beading and artwork. After making your creation, take a walk through the museum to see curated displays and exhibits showcasing centuries-old tribal artifacts. Check out threechiefs.org for more details on classes.
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Experience an interpretive tour through Glacier National Park and Blackfeet Country. Guides on these tours are lifelong residents of the Blackfeet Reservation. They aim to share the Blackfeet’s connections to the park with visitors while also showcasing and celebrating the lands that they call home.
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These tours take visitors through Yellowstone National Park, exploring the land through an Indigenous lens. On the tour, visitors can expect to learn Native American stories that shed light on humans’ connection to the natural world. Excursions are offered intermittently throughout the month of August.
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With Blackfeet Outfitters, outdoorsmen are able to hunt, fish and explore the backcountry in northwest Montana with Blackfeet guides, who can share insight on ancestral skills and traditional ecological knowledge of the Blackfeet tribe. If you’d prefer something more laid back, visitors can experience views of the unparalleled country by Jeep, on horseback or on foot on their cultural tours. These tours offer the chance to enjoy breathtaking landscapes while learning about Blackfeet history and heritage.
Contact tour operators or check their websites for the most up-to-date information on the experiences offered.
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