MDF marks completion of Aspen Decker mural at MNHC

The public is invited to celebrate the unveiling of Downtown Missoula’s newest mural completed by Aspen Decker in conjunction with First Friday Gallery Night, Oct. 2, at the Montana Natural History Center (120 Hickory St.). Montana native artist Aspen Decker, member of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, will be there to share her thoughts on the mural called Sx̣ʷeʔlí x̣èct u Qʷl̓epm or Camas Dig & Bake at 5 p.m.

Decker’s mural focuses on the traditional gathering of the Bitterroot Salish people to dig the camas plant and bake to feed their tribe. Created as a contemporary ledger-style work, the piece combines place-based history with cultural storytelling rooted in Bitterroot Salish homelands, emphasizing the deep relationship between the Salish people and the land.

“As a Salish artist, it is important to me that our stories are represented in public spaces through our own voices,” said artist Aspen Decker. “The camas dig and bake is not simply part of the history of this place. It is a living cultural practice that carries our language, knowledge, and responsibilities to the land. I hope this mural helps people understand that Salish culture is still here, and that our connection to these lands has continued for thousands of years.”

The project is funded by the Missoula Downtown Foundation and the Montana Natural History Center and made possible by additional funding from the Charles O’Boyle Legacy Fund, the Llewellyn Foundation, Candace Crosby & Dudley Dana, and Dawn & Tim Payne.

This is the second mural project funded by the Missoula Downtown Foundation this year. The second mural, Joy Blooms, will be celebrated at the Leaf + Quiet building at 235 N. 1st St. later this month.