Nk̓ʷúwilš means “to become one” in Salish.
This word is used to call everyone into the circle.
To us, it is an invitation to come together in a good way,
toward repair of harms from the past several centuries.
As Native and non-Native people,
we live and work on land that has been stewarded
by the Séliš, Ql̓ispé, Ksanka people since time immemorial.
We will add a Kootenai word to our name in the future.
Nk̓ʷúwilš Launch Flyer
VIEW PDFVision & Mission
The Nk̓ʷúwilš Solidarity Program envisions a future of right relationship on the traditional homelands of the Séliš, Ql̓ispé, and Ksanka peoples, where right relationship means living in harmony with the land, with each other, with Spirit, and with ourselves.
Our mission is to begin repair of harms done in recent centuries on the homelands of the Séliš, Ql̓ispé, and Ksanka peoples, and to support Tribal members into homeownership. We do this by engaging current residents to respectfully learn about history and culture, to participate in activities that build relationships and promote healing, and to make financial and other contributions in solidarity with the traditional peoples of this land.
Click here to join Nk̓ʷúwilš
WelcomeIf you have come here to help me, you are wasting your time.
But if you have come because your liberation is bound up with mine,
then let us work together.
– Aboriginal Rights saying from the 1970s
What is meant by “solidarity”?
Learn More“Solidarity” implies equality and mutual respect, in contrast to “charity,” which has come to suggest hierarchy and condescension. Solidarity implies a commitment to mutual well-being. Nk̓ʷúwilš contributors are asked to commit to learning about the Tribal histories of the land where they live, and to discuss this history with other residents, in addition to whatever monetary contribution they may be able to offer.
What do the Tribal Council and Tribal Elders think about this?
Learn MoreThe Tribal Council of the Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribes and the Séliš-Ql̓ispé Culture Committee Elders have given their blessings to this project. The Nk̓ʷúwilš project is also reaching out to the Ksanka (Kootenai) Elders Committee, and will stay in communication with CSKT Tribal Council, elders, and government leaders, and collaborate whenever possible. A community visioning session was held in April 2023, including two Tribal Council members and a number of leaders in Tribal government. All were very supportive and encouraged Jody and Jenny to pursue this project. The Salish & Kootenai Housing Authority is a branch of the Tribal government. The Nk̓ʷúwilš project is also reaching out to the Elders Commitees, and will stay in communication with CSKT Tribal Council and government leaders, and collaborate whenever possible.
How did this start?
Learn MoreJody Cahoon Perez and Jenny Mish heard about other solidarity giving programs in 2022, and began meeting to imagine a local program. Jody grew up on the Flathead Reservation, where her heart’s desire is to secure safe housing for Tribal members, and for all people. She serves as Executive Director of the Salish & Kootenai Housing Authority, the Tribally-designated housing entity of the Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribes. Jenny is a consultant and community organizer who lives in Missoula, where she works on community development projects, including Common Good Missoula’s Wrestling with the Truth of Colonization and practice groups based on Resmaa Menakem’s book, My Grandmother’s Hands.
Is this being done elsewhere?
Learn MoreStarting around 2018, a number of programs have emerged around the U.S. to provide “honor taxes,” “real rent,” “guest exchange,” and other forms of solidarity funding for Native peoples. These programs are always tailored to local needs, providing unrestricted resources and support for the traditional people of the lands where they operate. See the Resources section for links to some of these programs.
How will Nk̓ʷúwilš financial contributions be used?
Learn MoreThe initial funding goal for this program is to address the gap in resources available to support Tribal members into homeownership. On the Flathead Reservation, there are currently ~275 households on the waiting list for 516 Low Rent housing units that are managed by the Salish and Kootenai Housing Authority. A bureaucratic funding gap prevents those who are currently in Low Rent housing from increasing their income and becoming homeowners. Relatively small amounts of money, ~$12,000 per household, can allow these families to own their own homes. In turn, this will open SKHA Low Rent units to others on the waiting list. Meeting that need is the top initial priority for Nk̓ʷúwilš financial contributions.
How are program expenses funded?
Learn More100% of contributions received from the fall 2024 pilot campaign will go directly to Tribal members in need of housing, minus payment processing fees which may also be paid by the contributor in the payment window. The launch of this program has been supported by SKHA, NeighborWorks Montana, and technical assistance from the HUD Office of Native American Programs and the National American Indian Housing Council. Continued operations will need additional funding– please let us know if you are interested in contributing for this purpose.
How will I know that my financial contributions are being used as promised?
Learn MoreThe Nk̓ʷúwilš project and the Salish and Kootenai Housing Authority will share successes on this webpage and social media, and provide a report for contributors detailing homeownership and other outcomes each time a fundraising goal is met. Contributors concerned about this issue are also encouraged to “wrestle” with the history of paternalism in philanthropy and consider the possibility of contributing without strings attached.
Is my financial contribution tax-deductible?
Learn MoreYes. Nk̓ʷúwilš is a project of the Salish & Kootenai Housing Authority (SKHA) in collaboration with NeighborWorks Montana, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, EIN 81-0543240. All financial contributions will be received and tracked by NeighborWorks Montana, which will send tax verification letters to contributors at the end of the calendar year. This ensures full compliance with U.S. tax and other laws. SKHA and NeighborWorks have a long history of partnership for housing on the Flathead Reservation. As a tribal entity, SKHA is also tax exempt according to the IRS, under Section 7871 of the 1982 Indian Tribal Governmental Tax Status Act. However, many donors are unfamiliar with this status and prefer to contribute to a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
Who should contribute?
Learn MoreAnyone who feels called to heal the harms of settler colonialism is welcome to participate. We primarily focus on people from European ancestry living in the ancestral homelands of the Séliš, Ql̓ispé, and Ksanka people.
How much money should I contribute?
Learn MoreWe do not share contributor names and gift amounts – what you give is for your heart to decide. Everything in the US takes place on land where Native people were and are displaced. We invite you to be bold and give a meaningful amount as large as your individual budget allows. In recognition of the broken Hellgate Treaty of 1855, you could choose to contribute $18.55/month, or $1855/year. For further guidance, you could use an online calculator from another Solidarity Giving Program. Here is a calculator from the Kuuy Nahwá’a Guest Exchange, and here is one from the Miami Nation Honor Fund.
Can I pay by check, or from a Donor Advised Fund?
Learn MoreYes, checks and contributions from Donor Advised Funds can be made payable to “Nkwuwils Solidarity Program of NeighborWorks Montana,” EIN 81-0543240, and sent to NeighborWorks Montana, P.O. Box 1025, Great Falls MT 59403.
How can I contribute if I don't have financial resources to offer?
Learn MoreFinancial contributions are the focus of the Fall 2024 pilot campaign, and will continue to be a key foundation of the Nk̓ʷúwilš program in the future. A monthly contribution can be made as low as $1 per month. We understand that contributions can come in many forms, and that not everyone is able to contribute financially. Please be patient as we develop participation opportunities and build a solidarity community offering support in a variety of ways.
Who are the Séliš, Ql̓ispé, and Ksanka people?
Learn MoreThe Bitterroot Salish people call themselves the Séliš. Since time immemorial, they lived primarily in the Stevensville area, and were forced to relocate to the Flathead Reservation in 1891, after decades of broken treaty negotiations starting with the Hellgate Treaty of 1855. They joined the Ql̓ispé, a sister tribe sharing the same language, already living in the Mission Valley. The Ksanka people are one of several bands of Ksanka-ȼ Ktunaxa (Kootenai) people. The Ksanka lived in the area now called Libby, and were pushed from the north and west onto the Flathead Reservation. These three groups comprise the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes.
How can I learn more about Séliš, Ql̓ispé, and Ksanka history and culture?
Learn MoreThe Séliš-Ql̓ispé Culture Committee has requested that non-Natives become familiar with the resources provided on their website, linked in the Resources section below. Many organizations offer relevant events in Missoula and on the Flathead Reservation. These include films, powwows, storytelling events, art shows and fairs, speakers, ceremonies, and other events. Common Good Missoula offers Wrestling with the Truth of Colonization training twice each year. Courses in language, history, and culture are offered by the University of Montana, Salish Kootenai College, MOLLI, and the Lifelong Learning Center in Missoula. The Nk̓ʷúwilš project aims to highlight learning opportunities at least quarterly, and create gathering spaces for white settlers to “wrestle” with the truth of non-Native people’s impact on the land where we live.
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WelcomeSKHA Repairs Historical Trauma Through Providing Homes. Char-Koosta, 11/28/24
Learn MoreTribal Housing Authority Invites Non-Native Support Amid Housing Crisis. Missoulian, 11/18/24
Learn More‘My Own Space’: Salish Kootenai Housing Authority Unveils 9 New Homes On Reservation
Learn MoreBarriers to Buying
Learn MoreSummary results from 2021 “Doubled-Up & Homelessness”
Learn MoreSéliš-Ql̓ispé Culture Committee
Learn MoreKsanka Culture Committee
Learn MoreCSKT Teacher Resources
Learn MoreCSKT Tribal Education’s YouTube Channel
Learn MoreChar-Koosta News
Learn MoreConfederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes
Learn MoreA Spectrum of Allyship
Learn MoreHow to Come Correct
Learn MoreSettler Responsibility & Reciprocity
Learn MoreSogorea Te’ Land Trust’s Shuumi Land Tax
Learn MoreKuuy Nahwá’a Guest Exchange
Learn MoreManna-hatta Fund
Learn MoreHonor Native Land Fund
Learn MoreMni Šota Makoče Honor Tax
Learn MoreWabanaki Commission and First Light
Learn MoreReal Rent Duwamish
Learn MoreClick here to join Nk̓ʷúwilš
WelcomeThanks to NeighborWorks Montana for fiscal sponsorship of this project.
Thanks to the HUD Office of Native American Programs and the National American Indian Housing Council for technical assistance.