1missionandswanvalleysarea.gifTRAVEL_MT2004-12-22T11:43:04249YLOCAL INFORMATIONhttp://www.skc.edu/YVISITOR INFORMATIONhttp://glacier.visitmt.com10002550<P>Pablo was named for Michel Pablo, a Flathead Chief, rancher and stockman who, by raising bison, is one of the individuals responsible for saving the bison from extinction. Walking Coyote, a Pen d'Oreille Indian hunting in the Milk River country, brought a few bison calves back to the Flathead Valley and sold them to Pablo and Charles Allard. They were the nucleus of the herd that now roams the <a href="/categories/moreinfo.asp?SiteID=1&IDRRecordID=721">National Bison Range</a>. (from Cheney's <I>Names on the Face of Montana</I>, Mountain Press Publishing Company) <P>Pablo is the headquarters for the <a href="/places_to_go/indian_nations/selish-Ktunaxa-flathead/">Flathead Indian Reservation</a> and lies at the base of the Mission Mountains south of <a href="/categories/moreinfo.asp?SiteID=1&IDRRecordID=11891">Flathead Lake</a>. Government offices for the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes moved to Pablo in the late 1970s because of its central location on the Flathead Reservation. The Salish-Kootenai College was established in 1977. It has a library that holds an extensive collection of history books about the Native American Tribes.</p><P>Of special interest are the <a href="/categories/moreinfo.asp?SiteID=1&IDRRecordID=3943">Ninepipe and Pablo Wildlife Refuges</a>, <a href="/categories/moreinfo.asp?SiteID=1&IDRRecordID=8920">Arlee Powwow</a> in early July and <a href="/categories/moreinfo.asp?SiteID=1&IDRRecordID=8825">Standing Arrow Pow Wow</a> in Elmo in mid-July, as well as the Sqelix'u/Aqtsmaknik Cultural Center, which takes its name from the Salish-Kootenai languages meaning "the People's." Reflecting the people's desire to establish a center aimed at promoting, preserving and enhancing Salish-Kootenai culture, <a href="/categories/moreinfo.asp?SiteID=1&IDRRecordID=9527">The People's Center</a> was officially established in the fall of 1990. The facility lies north of Pablo on Highway 93 and includes exhibits, collections of Salish-Kootenai and Pend d'Oreille people, a learning center and gift shop. Educational day programs are available. The center tells the native story and shows the way of life as it has passed from generation to generation.</p><map name="nearbycities"><area shape="rect" alt="Ovando, Montana" coords="180,221,237,239" href="/categories/city.asp?CityID=248"><area shape="rect" alt="Seeley Lake, Montana" coords="131,186,233,217" href="/categories/city.asp?CityID=302"><area shape="rect" alt="St. Ignatius, Montana" coords="65,170,128,193" href="/categories/city.asp?CityID=291"><area shape="rect" alt="Condon, Montana" coords="104,107,158,126" href="/categories/city.asp?CityID=71"><area shape="rect" alt="Heart Butte, Montana" coords="204,15,243,45" href="/categories/city.asp?CityID=161"><area shape="rect" alt="Ravalli, Montana" coords="23,185,63,200" href="/categories/city.asp?CityID=270"><area shape="rect" alt="Ronan, Montana" coords="64,132,121,158" href="/categories/city.asp?CityID=283"><area shape="rect" alt="Pablo, Montana" coords="63,118,95,131" href="/categories/city.asp?CityID=249"><area shape="rect" alt="Dixon, Montana" coords="32,165,60,184" href="/categories/city.asp?CityID=94"><area shape="rect" alt="Charlo, Montana" coords="31,127,60,141" href="/categories/city.asp?CityID=58"><area shape="rect" alt="Polson, Montana" coords="15,100,63,125" href="/categories/city.asp?CityID=260"><area shape="rect" alt="Big Arm, Montana" coords="10,83,50,97" href="/categories/city.asp?CityID=23"><area shape="rect" alt="Elmo, Montana" coords="11,70,46229274PABLOGLACIER9527Three Chiefs Culture Center Museum & Gift Shop117305People's Center Powwow121505Weekend Yoga Workshop1MT59855