September 24, 2016 marked the 175th anniversary of the Jesuit missionaries’ arrival to the Bitterroot Valley. For many years, St. Mary’s Mission celebrates its founding with reenactments of the historical events which shaped the relationship between the Bitterroot Salish and the Jesuits. Their friendship has endured through many challenges, including the forced removal of the Salish from the valley in 1891. Their story is a testament to the power of time healing all wounds and the resilience of two vastly different cultures coming together.
