Flathead Nation program youth and families gathered for a two-night cultural workshop led by Tribal knowledge keeper Jordan Stasso, where they made traditional bitterroot diggers using antler and rawhide.

A deeply rooted cultural practice that emphasizes respect for the land, the plant, and ancestral knowledge, bitterroot digging sustains the harvest of Lewisia rediviva (or “bitterroot”), a traditional staple food for the Salish and Kootenai people.

Guided by elders, families will soon participate in a community bitterroot dig that will strengthen intergenerational learning, cultural identity, and connection to traditional lifeways.

We are proud to continue to engage in meaningful programming led by Tribal knowledge keepers to deepen cultural connection and family engagement in our Flathead Nation program.