Original materials are held in the Kyi-Yo office at The University of Montana
Although an informal Indian student organization existed by the early 1950s, the formal organization of Kyi-Yo Native American Student Association at The University of Montana dates to 1965. The name Kyi-Yo means bear in the Blackfeet language. In addition to offering support to members and promoting awareness of Native American culture, Kyi-Yo has worked to sponsor an annual conference or powwow.
In 1968 a university committee proposed the offering of a new course in American Indian culture and history. By early 1969 a program of Indian courses was approved and hiring appropriate faculty was initated.
The organization remains active. In 2015 the Sacred Roots Language Society (SRLS), an ASUM student group at the University of Montana, requested that Kyi-yo change the spelling of its name to Kyiyo to reflect the language from which it derives more closely.
This collection includes photocopied clippings and email interviews dated 1965 through 2007 about the history of the Kyi-Yo Native American Student Association and the Native American Studies program at the University of Montana-Missoula.
Researchers must use collection in accordance with the policies of Archives and Special Collections, the Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, and The University of Montana-Missoula.
Researchers are responsible for using in accordance with 17 U.S.C. and any other applicable statutes.
Kyi-Yo Native American Student Association (University of Montana--Missoula) History Collection, Archives and Special Collections, Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, The University of Montana-Missoula.
This collection was loaned by Denise Grant for photocopying in 2009.
This collection is indexed under the following headings in the online catalog. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons, or places should search the catalog using these headings.