New Missoula Mural Honors Bitterroot Salish Heritage and Camas Traditions

A new mural celebrating Bitterroot Salish culture is being created in downtown Missoula. Local artist Aspen Decker, a member of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, is painting “Sx̣elí x̣èct u Ql̓epm” (Camas Dig & Bake) on the Montana Natural History Center’s west-facing wall. The 40-foot-wide, 20-foot-tall mural will capture the traditional gathering of the Bitterroot Salish people as they dig and bake camas, an important food source. Decker aims to showcase the ongoing cultural significance of this practice, emphasizing the Salish connection to land today. Her husband, Diné artist Cameron Decker, will assist with the project, which is supported by the Missoula Downtown Foundation and the Montana Natural History Center. The mural will be visible from the nearby Milwaukee Trail.