About SQCC & Longhouse
Our mission:
To preserve, protect, and perpetuate the culture, language, and history of our ancestors.
Department Director: Ɫaʔkat-Sadie Peone-Stops
Phone: (406) 745-4572
Hours: Mon-Thurs 7:00am – 5:30pm
Follow Us:
About SQCC, Elders Cultural Advisory Council, & Longhouse
Qe es nte qeqs čšt̓im, qeqs k̓͏ʷɫqeyx͏ʷm, n̓e taqs hoy, taqs oóst
ɫu sqlix͏ʷɫ nk̓͏ʷul̓mis, ɫu nuwewlštis, ɫu qe x̣͏ʷlč̓musšn.
We seek to guard and protect the culture and language of our ancestors so that it will not end or be lost.
The SQCC has an enormous mission and responsibility: preserving, protecting, and perpetuating the culture, language, and history of the Séliš and Ql̓ispé people.
The Culture Committee is an important staple for the survival and renewal of our people. We hope this site is useful and helps strengthen the bond to our language, our traditions and our past.
We are comprised of a staff and a group of culturally knowledgeable elders constituted as the Séliš-Ql̓ispé Elders Cultural Advisory Council. They give guidance and direction to all that we do.
The Séliš-Ql̓ispé Culture Committee was first created in 1974-75 in response to the urgent concern of many traditional elders that we need to take strong action to ensure that our culture would be carried on by younger generations, and by the generations yet to come. Since that time, we have worked hard in many areas to ensure both our language and way of life will always survive and remain.
Our work is based at the traditional longhouse, the Usšnéłxʷ, in Snyel̓mn (St. Ignatius). This is where many traditional tribal cultural ceremonies and events are held, including the SQCC’s monthly meetings and regular consultations with the Séliš-Ql̓ispé Elders Cultural Advisory Council; wakes and funerals; Jump dances; the Woodcock-Incashola Memorial; Bitterroot Feast; Salish language classes, Culture nights and the annual Language & Culture Camp as well as others.
Cultural Events & Activities
The SQCC regularly is called on to conduct opening prayers, speak, or deliver presentations at annual events such as River Honoring, Lake Honoring, Tribal Council, meetings between CSKT and other agencies, PIR day, People’s Center Native American week, and Tribal Ed awards for cultural education.
Longhouse
Our work is based at the traditional longhouse, the Usšnéłxʷ, in Snyel̓mn (St. Ignatius). This is where many traditional tribal cultural events are held, including the SQCC’s monthly meetings and regular consultations with the Séliš-Ql̓ispé Elders Cultural Advisory Council; wakes and funerals; the New Year’s jump dance; the Woodcock-Incashola Dinner; the Bitterroot Feast; and the annual Language & Culture Camp.
