Wilderness Speaker Series Concludes With Tim Ryan’s Presentation on ‘the Trails That Support Our Ancestors’
The 2023 Wilderness Speaker Series concludes April 26 with a presentation on “The Trails that Support our Ancestors,” by Tim Ryan, department head of Culture and Language Studies at Salish Kootenai College.
Ryan will present on the “Seasonal Rounds” of the Salish.
“The indigenous trail network connected our ancestors to the vital resources that made it possible for generations not just to survive, but to thrive in their homelands,” the description for the talk says.
In addition to serving as the department head of Culture and Language Studies, Ryan is a science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) instructor for the Salish Kootenai College Native American Studies Division, lending experiential learning on subjects of culture and science, according to his bio. Before working at the college, Ryan spent eight years as a business partner and field supervisor for an archaeological firm called EthnoTech, serving as the archaeological field survey supervisor for the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes’ Historic Preservation Department.
Ryan’s experiences with his elder’s teachings and his decades-long study of traditional ecological knowledge, ethnobotany, and indigenous sciences, combined with his extensive experience in field archaeology, bring a unique quality and perspectives to his teachings and outdoor experiential opportunities, according to series organizers.
The event will be held from 7 to 8:15 p.m. at Flathead Valley Community College in the Arts and Technology Building’s large community room. There is no cost to attend.
The Wilderness Speaker Series is a collaboration between the Bob Marshall Wilderness Foundation, Wild Montana Flathead-Kootenai Chapter, Northwest Montana Lookout Association, and the Natural Resources Conservation Management Program at Flathead Valley Community College
To learn more about the Wilderness Speaker Series and watch recordings of previous presentations, please visit bmwf.org/wss.