Mission Statement

The mission of Salish Kootenai College is to provide quality postsecondary educational opportunities for Native Americans, locally and from throughout the United States. The College will strive to provide opportunities for individual self-improvement to promote and help maintain the cultures of the Confederated Tribes of the Flathead Indian Nation.Vision

Vision

The vision of Salish Kootenai College is to foster curricula and vocational certification, and associates and bachelors degree programs that meet the unique needs of the Native American population. While the college encourages diversity, its primary purpose is to serve the needs of Native American People.Goals


Goals

The Salish Kootenai College Board of Directors has adopted the following goals. These were formulated to provide further specificity to the Mission Statement.

To assist with the preservation of the cultures, languages, histories, and natural environment of the Salish, Pend d?Oreille, and Kootenai people
To provide postsecondary education opportunities for Native Americans in the following areas: degree programs, vocational training, college transfer programs, community service, Native American culture and history, and adult education.
To provide a learning environment in which students develop skills in effective communication, critical thinking, cultural understanding, and citizenship.
To provide comprehensive student services.
To provide life-long, continuing education opportunities for both personal and professional development through a variety of instructional formats offered on and off campus.
To provide assistance to tribal entities and departments in staff preparation, planning, research and services according to identified needs.
To assist the Indian community with economic development needs of the Flathead Indian Nation.
To provide adequate institutional support and financial resources.


Salish Kootenai College (SKC) began as a branch campus of Flathead Valley Community College (FVCC) occupying office space donated by Polson School District. Beginning in the Winter term of 1977, the Reservation Extension Center boasted 16 part-time faculty and 49 students. The Center offered 45 credits at seven sites around the reservation. That same year, a resolution was passed by Tribal Council to formally establish a tribal college on the Flathead Reservation. The college subsequently applied for membership in the new AIHEC (American Indian Higher Education Consortium) organization, at the time a consortium of 12 colleges.The following academic year, the college had six full-time faculty and eventually moved to Pablo.

The early years were difficult and funding was largely by grants, but in October of 1978, the Tribally Controlled Community College Assistance Act was passed and provided a stable funding base. In 1981, the college broke ties with FVCC and formally called itself Salish Kootenai College. The first academic catalog (1979-1981) listed three degree and four certificate programs, 117 courses, and a total enrollment of 142 students. SKC became accredited in 1984, the first tribal college in the Northwest to accomplish the goal. In 1989, the registered nursing program was established, only the third in the nation at a tribal college. And by its tenth year, the new catalog (1989-1991) identified six buildings, nine degree and five certificate programs, 310 courses, and 540 full-time students.The decade of the 90’s saw a ten-year accreditation in 1994. Several buildings were purchased from the tribes. Land was purchased to the east and south of the present campus and a new Fine Arts Center, Science Facility and golf course are at or near completion.



Salish Kootenai College is located in the center of the Flathead Indian Reservation in western Montana. The campus is located east of Highway 93, opposite the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribal Office Complex in Pablo, Montana. The Flathead Reservation is surrounded on the east, west, and south by mountains. To the north is Flathead Lake, the largest natural freshwater lake west of the Mississippi River. The beautiful Flathead River winds its way through the Reservation from north to south. Within the Reservation’s boundaries are the National Bison Range in Moiese and the Ninepipe National Wildlife Refuge. Other places of interest in the nearby western Montana area are Glacier National Park, the Bob Marshall Wilderness Area, the Lolo National Forest, and the Flathead National Forest.Many recreational areas are accessible both on and near the Reservation. Winter skiers are within a two-hour drive to these public ski areas: Snow Bowl, north of Missoula; Marshall Ski area, east of Missoula; Blacktail in Lakeside; and Big Mountain, at Whitefish. The winter months provide many opportunities for cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, and ice-fishing. Lake and stream fishing, camping, swimming, hiking, and rafting are enjoyed throughout the spring, summer,
and fall.
Salish Kootenai College is accredited by the
Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.
Salish Kootenai College Board of Directors 2005-2006
Dana Hewankorn
Vernon Finley
Ernest “Bud” Moran
Patty Stevens
Lana Page
Renee Pierre
Robert Fouty

QUICK FACTS
The College is located in Pablo, Montana, in the heart of the Flathead Indian Reservation in the scenic Mission Valley of northwestern Montana.
President: Joseph McDonald, EdD.
Since 1977, the College has graduated 2,536 bachelors and associate degrees and certificates of completion
The D'Arcy McNickle Library library contains over 60,000 volumes and provides access to online reference databases. The Library also houses the Special Archives Collection for the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes.
In 2005-2006, SKC students represented 107 federally recognized tribes   More detail...