Flathead Reservation Photo Program Celebrates 20 Years

Alums showcase work from classes at Two Eagle River School and Salish Kootenai College.

Apr. 3, 2026 at 1:59pm

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An abstract, out-of-focus photograph showing the silhouette of a young person holding a camera, surrounded by a warm, hazy glow of light, conceptually representing the creative energy and personal expression fostered by the photography program.The Flathead Reservation photo program has empowered local youth to document their culture and community through the lens.Missoula Today

The Flathead Reservation photo program, which has been running classes at Two Eagle River School and Salish Kootenai College for the past 20 years, is celebrating its anniversary with a special photo exhibition in Missoula this First Friday. The program has empowered local Native American students to capture the beauty and culture of their community through the lens.

Why it matters

The photo program has provided an important creative outlet for youth on the Flathead Reservation, allowing them to document their lives and heritage. The exhibition in Missoula will bring wider recognition to the talented photographers who have come through the program over the past two decades.

The details

The photo program was started in 2006 to give Native American students on the Flathead Reservation the opportunity to learn photography skills and tell their own stories through images. Over the years, hundreds of students from Two Eagle River School and Salish Kootenai College have participated, creating a rich archive of photos celebrating the land, people, and traditions of the reservation.

  • The photo program was started in 2006.
  • The 20th anniversary exhibition will be held this First Friday in Missoula.

The players

Two Eagle River School

A high school on the Flathead Reservation that has hosted the photo program for the past 20 years.

Salish Kootenai College

A tribal college on the Flathead Reservation that has also offered the photo program to its students.

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What they’re saying

“It just brought out so much in the students. They were able to capture their culture, their community, their families in a way that was really powerful.”

— Jillian Weatherwax, Program Coordinator

The takeaway

The Flathead Reservation photo program has given generations of Native American youth a meaningful way to preserve and share their cultural heritage, empowering them to tell their own stories through the art of photography.