SUSI experience: Bison Watching & Missoula Officials

Tuesday, July  26: Flathead Reservation of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes 

The  Confederated  Salish  and  Kootenai  Tribes  (CSKT)  live  on  the  Flathead  Reservation, 1.3 million acres bordering Missoula County. CSKT is a leader in environmental protection and conservation. It was the first tribe in the U.S. to  establish a designated wilderness area; manages large herds of wild elk and bighorn sheep and oversees hunting and fishing programs on the Reservation for both Indians and non‐Indians; and administers a comprehensive mitigation program to offset the impacts of local hydropower operations on fish and wildlife resources. There, members of the tribal council welcomed us to the  reservation  and government headquarters, providing an overview  of  the  Salish and Kootenai tribes’ history and relations with state and federal governments.

Hundreds of Bisons at the Range

at the Osprey Stadium

We had lunch at The  National  Bison  Range. The National Bison Range is a vast area of land where bison are protected. People often come there just to see the big animal feeding in the grass. The landscape consist of hills, valleys, and grasslands. We were lucky because we encountered hundreds of bison divided into several herds in the range because last year the group did not find any; those big animals are amazing, partly because we have never seen them and also their features are ver unique. The range is not so far from Missoula, so after we were enough with the bison we started to head to Miller Hall because that evening we had a baseball game to watch, a match between Missoula  Osprey versus the Idaho Falls Chukars.

Baseball  is  America's  "national  pastime"  or  culturally, its national sport. While  baseball is perhaps no longer the United State's most popular sport,it has enduring  cultural significance. In the U.S., there is the Major League, and the Minor Leagues.    Both leagues are independently owned and operated as businesses. Teams compete against each other within smaller regional sub‐groupings. The Minor League teams often are affiliated with Major League teams, and act as "feeder farms," or recruiting pools for the more professional Major League. The Missoula Osprey and Idaho Falls Chukars are both in the regional Pioneer League. Hundreds people filled up the Osprey Stadium; there is one MC that leads the game (like a commentator in a football match), but not only he reported how the game run, he also lead the spectators to yell and give their support for the Missoula Osprey. Although we did not understand the rule of the game, but we really enjoyed it because by watching and supporting the Osprey, we felt like real Missoulians already; and as a big bonus, the Missoula Osprey won the game!

Wednesday, July  27:  The Media and Local Government

The day started with a session from Mr. Bryce Bennett, Political Director and Montana State Legislator. Mr. Bennett  and us discussed how Forward Montana trains and mobilizes young people to be active participants in our democratic  process using innovative and creative methods. After that, we biked to the office of The Missoulian, Missoula's local newspaper. 

At The Missoulian, Mr. Michael Moore (City  Editor), Ms. Gwen Florio (Reporter), and Mr. Rob Chaney (Reporter) reviewed about the role of the daily  newspaper in the community, with a particular focus on the role of the media  and issues in environment and natural resources reporting. They also invited us to the place where they produce the newspaper (they own their own printing), and explained the process from the reporters getting the news until the news is published to the public. 

Lunch at Caras Park

That day, Missoula still had Montana's longest running festival,  Out  to  Lunch.   It is a weekly performing arts festival at Caras Park on the Clark Fork River, featuring musicians and over 20 varied food vendors. Some of us had lunch there, but the others ate downtown in different places. After lunch, we had to bunch up in front of the Missoula Country Courthouse.

The Role of the Judiciary in the U.S. Is our next topic, delivered by Ms. Brenda  Desmond who gave us overview of the role of the judiciary in U.S. society and governance, using her framework of experience in both tribal and state governments. Brenda  Desmond serves as Standing Master for the State of Montana, Fourth Judicial District Court. She also serves as Chief Justice of the Fort Peck Tribal Court of Appeals.

The  Role  of  Local  Government later was delivered by Mayor John Engen and City Council members Ms. Marilyn Marler and Mr. Dave Strohmaier. Mayor Engen welcomed our group to the City and provide an overview of city government and its role in global environmental issues. Ms. Marler and Mr. Strohmaier  added the perspective of elected officials, with a focus on their responsibilities to the public while working with layers of  country, state, tribal, and federal officials.

At 7pm we attended the Community Barbecue and Summer Band Concert at the  City Band Shelter. Some of our host families, speakers, and other people we have met during the  Missoula program came as well. It was a great dinner, because we became a part of Missoula's festivity, and it was nice to know that people are interested and eager to meet us.