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CalendarHospitality lies at the heart of Kalispel culture, embodying a sense of community, togetherness, and giving. We’re proud to share with you our strong Kalispel spirit, displayed here as the spirit of Christmas.
Throughout Questmas, you’ll see interactive displays that honor Kalispel lifestyle and history. Discover the stories behind Tribal folklore, and learn about traditional Indigenous practices and an honored heritage. Each display offers a Salish translation, highlighting a language being preserved by Kalispel Tribal members today.
As you walk through Questmas, we invite you to take festive photos and scan the QR codes featured among the displays to learn more about that piece of Kalispel culture.
#MerryQuestmas
(Sasquatch)
Sasquatch, also called Bigfoot, was described by Indigenous people as a wild, hairy man. Tribal members recall Kalispel ancestors telling stories of sightings of Sasquatch in their forests near Cusick, WA, stating that they left Sasquatch alone, and in turn he left them be. Is the legend of Sasquatch real? We may never know.
(Canoe)
Named for its resemblance to the head of a sturgeon, the sturgeon-nosed canoe was built and used by the Kalispel Tribe to help their people travel the rough river waters. Typically constructed of a wooden frame covered with tree bark, the unique design helped the canoe withstand windy, turbulent conditions. In recent years, young Kalispel Tribal members began reintroducing the traditional canoe to their communities.
(Tule Hut)
The traditional homes of the Kalispel Tribe were similar to tipis you’d see on the Plains, but instead of buffalo hide, these tipis were covered with woven tule mats. Tules, a wetland glass-like plant, grew abundantly along the banks of the Pend Oreille River. In the wintertime, Tribal members would build elongated houses, once again covered in tule mats. Oftentimes, between three and twelve families would live in one tule-covered house.
