As the adage goes: “April showers bring May flowers.” Here in the Rocky Mountains and eastern Montana prairie, April roared on through with cool temperatures, rain, and snow storms. We'll try not to jinx it, but May should indeed be overflowing with flowers.
On the sagebrush slopes of Montana, Bitteroots, the emblematic state flower and the inspiration for our logo, are emerging—their vibrant blossoms stand in stark contrast to the browns and greens of the landscape.
“The sp̓eƛ̓m̓ (bitterroot) is one of the staple foods for the Séliš. An old Séliš creation story tells how the sp̓eƛ̓m̓ came from tears of an elderly woman that was gifted by a spirit bird that saved the people from starvation. The month of May is called Sp̓eƛ̓m̓ Spq̓niʔ (Bitterroot Month). When spring high waters appear, the bitterroot returns. Séliš women were the caretakers of the sp̓eƛ̓m̓. A woman was selected to keep watch of the sp̓eƛ̓m̓ to know when it was ready to be harvested. Once the sp̓eƛ̓m̓ was ready she would notify the chief. The camp crier would let the entire camp know there would be a sp̓eƛ̓m̓ feast the following day to honor the sp̓eƛ̓m̓. The leftover sp̓eƛ̓m̓ from the previous year was prepared and cooked with other foods.
At the first dig of the year the women chose the sp̓eƛ̓m̓ to be blessed. The chief or an elder išé č̓uč̓awm x̣ʷl speƛ̓m (would pray for the bitterroot). A female was selected and asked to dig the blessed root. Afterwards, everyone could begin digging the roots. The elderly women would sit around u es łoqʷi t sox̣ʷép (and clean the roots).”
