During the fall of 1997, UM President George Dennison set aside a 1/4-square mile area along the Bitterroot River in Missoula as a site for a sweat lodge for Native American students. The sweat lodge, which is located near campus, allows Native American students the opportunity to participate in their cultures with their families without having to travel long distances. Formerly, Native American students had to return home for healing and to maintain their spiritual connections.
The sweat lodge is open to all in an effort to enhance cultural understanding. Native American students from all tribes are encouraged to go and share beliefs, customs and teachings from their tribes while maintaining their spiritual connections throughout their academic endeavors. Native American students are encouraged to build their own lodge on the site. The site is a designated intertribal spiritual place for sharing customs and cultures.
