It’s that time of year where autumn and winter play tug of war and it certainly is a feast for the eyes. If you haven’t already swung by one of the many vehicle-accessed river access sites to snap some photos there might be a month or so before they’re snowed in for a long winter slumber, on the Flathead Wild & Scenic Rivers. Be cautious of varying conditions and fallen trees from recent snow/wind event. Drop us some river photos at info@flatheadrivers.org if you’re out and we’ll share on our platforms.

Don’t forget to fill out our quick 2022 Flathead Rivers Alliance Survey HERE to help us fine-tune our strategic planning!

We’re rolling out our 2022 Accomplishment Report this month, so keep an eye out for it in your inbox.

MID-OCTOBER & NOVEMBER HAPPENINGS

Building Capacity Around Water Quality Workshop - Partnership/Winter-Spring Event Planning Meeting @ Glacier Distilling - Flathead Community of Outdoor Resource Educators Meeting - Flathead Headwaters Cultural/River Stewardship Planning Meeting w/ Tribal Representatives - Sunshine (BSWC Member) presented w/ Flathead National Forest Service Recognition Award - Shop Talk Event w/ Hilary Hutcheson & Clint Muhlfeld - Sunshine End of 2022 BSWC Term Thank You Celebration

NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH

Human existence in the Flathead Watershed dates back to soon after the last ice age, over 10,000 years ago. Historically, tribal territories shifted and overlapped in the Flathead Headwaters region. Middle (circa 7,500 to 2,500 years BP) use but mostly Late Prehistoric Period sites (2,500 BP to 1750 AD) associated with Sélis (Salish), Q’lispé (Pend d’Oreille), Ksanka/Ktunaxa/Kootenai Tribes and Blackfeet use, in the Flathead Headwaters.

RESOURCES

• Brief History of the People: www.flatheadwatershed.org/cultural_history/history_people.shtml

• Sk͏ʷsk͏ʷstúlex͏ʷ | Names Upon the Land: The Salish-Kalispel Ethnogeography Project: http://www.csktsalish.org/index.php/ethnogeography/ethnogeography-booklet

• Collection of Learning Modules on the Salish and Kootenai Tribes and the Natural World: http://fwrconline.csktnrd.org/

• WSR Conservation River Management Plan Ethnographic Presentations: www.fs.usda.gov/detailfull/flathead/home/?cid=fseprd589803&width=full

• The Place of the Falling Waters (1991), an award-winning documentary film centered on the construction of Kerr Dam on the lower Flathead River during the 1930s (3 Part Series Accessible on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tq6_UoLVErw&t=1235s, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQXpBMNBpoc&t=194s, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=THD370CUqag&t=50s)

• Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes (CSKT) enacted a Cultural Waterways Ordinance on the lower reach of the Flathead River below Séliš Ksanka QÍispé Dam creating a system to formally designate and protect culturally significant areas determined to need special protection or management. Learn more about Ordinance HERE.

Freedom Bank has been a Corporate Sponsor of Flathead Rivers Alliance since we began programming in 2021. Thank you to Freedom Bank for supporting our efforts to grow river stewardship, on the Flathead Wild and Scenic River!

We can’t thank our river community, partners, volunteers, donors, and sponsors enough! Our programming and projects wouldn’t be possible without your support. Interested in becoming a 22/23 Season Corporate Sponsor? Visit HERE or email info@flatheadrivers.org to learn how.

Note: River levels have dropped significantly. There are hydraulic features on the river and hazards that may be difficult to navigate at current river levels. Know your skill level and always wear a PFD/Life Jacket! Visit our TRIP PLANNING RESOURCE page HERE for more information.

If you’re cold water/weather prepared and headed out to river and want to share photos with us send them HERE with photo credit and location and we’ll share on our platforms.