Native American Center of Excellence

08/31/2026

Join us on Wednesday, September 2nd from 11 AM - 2 PM in the Payne Family Native American Center Rotunda for Wellness Wednesday!

We will be processing chokecherries, harvesting medicinal tea ingredients, and practicing seed saving from the Ethnobotany Garden.

Remember to stop by Wellness Wednesday throughout the semester on:

⭐ September 16th, 23rd, and 30th

⭐ October 7th, 14th, and 28th

⭐ November 4th

⭐Stress Less Study Break on Tuesday, December 1st

08/31/2026

Check out the Curry Health Center Counseling Services Fall 2026 groups!

Talking Circle: Wednesdays, 10 - 11 AM
September 9 - November 11, 2026
PFNAC 102

STAIR: Emotional Regulation & Trauma Recovery: Tuesdays, 3:30 - 4:30 PM
September 29 - November 3, 2026
CHC 073

Get Some Sleep!: Wednesdays, 1 - 2 PM
September 16 - November 18, 2026
CHC Medical (Check-in at Medical Reception)

Grief and Loss Support Group: Wednesdays, 4 - 5:15 PM
October 7 - November 18, 2026
CHC 073

Mindfulness-Based Skills Group: Thursdays, 3:30 - 4:30 PM
September 24 - November 12, 2026
CHC 073

Questions?
Call (406) 243-4712

08/28/2026

Interested in taking your learning into the field, backpacking through the Rocky Mountain West while earning college credit?

The Wild Rockies Field Institute (WRFI) is an academic field program that offers undergraduate students opportunities to earn upper-division college credit while backpacking, biking, hiking, and kayaking across landscapes of the Rocky Mountain West. WRFI courses are accredited by the University of Montana and take place in Montana, Canada, and the American Southwest, combining academic inquiry with cultural immersion and extended backcountry expeditions. Students engage in small, discussion-oriented classes, hands-on, field-based ecological studies, and authentic connections with community members who live and work in the places we travel through—all while sleeping in a tent!

If finances are a concern, WRFI offers scholarships and tuition discounts to help make their courses more accessible, as well as a sliding-scale tuition model for their semester-length courses. For students planning to join WRFI in 2027, there’s an additional opportunity to save: schedule a student call (https://calendly.com/d/dtb5-cpb-4j8/30-minute-student-consultation?month=2026-08 ) with WRFI before September 15 and receive an extra 5% off your course tuition (up to 25% total) when you enroll by October 1. Enrollment means paying your 25% tuition deposit.

Students interested in joining WRFI for the 2027 field season can submit an initial online application here: https://wrfi.app.neoncrm.com/forms/welcome-to-the-wild-rockies-field-institute-registration-2-127?event=127&

For questions or to schedule a student call, please reach out to WRFI's Student Experience Manager, Kelsey Wellington, at [email protected]

Learn more on the WRFI website: https://www.wrfi.net/

08/27/2026

The Curry Health Center offers guidance on the services available to Native American students and how to build your healthcare team as a Native Student at UM.

Find out more information on the Curry Health Center website: https://www.umt.edu/curry-health-center/student-hub/native-students.php

If you have any questions:
Call the Curry Health Center at 406-243-2122, email [email protected], or stop by!

08/26/2026

08/26/2026

The Indigenous First-Year Experience is looking for Native students to serve as Peer Mentors!

The Peer Mentor (PM) is a part-time, live-in student role who will co-mentor approximately 20 first-year tribally affiliated students with another PM.

This position is for one academic year with potential for longer position availability and there is no designated minimum or maximum number of hours. However, it is estimated that the role will require approximately 10-20 hours per week to complete the PM responsibilities.

The hourly rate starts at $15 per hour, however, based on involvement, prior experience, and qualifications could have room for advancement/promotion.

If you would like more information about becoming an IFYE Peer Mentor, visit the IFYE website: https://www.umt.edu/coalition-indigenous-stem/indigenous-first-year/

Or contact director Cody Munson at [email protected]

08/25/2026

Join us on Wednesday, August 26th from 11 AM - 2 PM in the Payne Family Native American Center Rotunda for Wellness Wednesday!

We will be processing chokecherries and harvesting medicinal tea ingredients.

Remember to stop by Wellness Wednesday throughout the semester on:

⭐September 2nd, 16th, 23rd, and 30th

⭐October 7th, 14th, and 28th

⭐November 4th

⭐Stress Less Study Break during the last week of classes

08/06/2026

Join the MCPS NASS Department for their Back to School BBQ!

Monday, August 24th from 5 - 6:30 PM in Admin B 909 South Ave.

06/30/2026

Friday, June 26th was the last day of the Pathways to Pharm.D. Summer Program!

The students developed a Field Guide of Traditional Plants around the University of Montana and presented their research on Friday morning.

After their research presentations, Dr. Cherith Smith provided the Pathways to Pharm.D. students and NACOE team with a traditional meal.

On June 25th, Josh Marceau, PhD delivered a lunch and learn for the students about his academic and professional journey.

06/26/2026

The Native American Center of Excellence was honored to welcome Leo Bird, a Blackfeet Elder, to campus on June 19 to speak to the Pathways to Pharm.D. students.

As part of Leo's visit, he led a field trip to Pattee Canyon, where students gained hands-on experience harvesting and learning about traditional Blackfeet plants and medicines.