10/14/2025
Today, on Indigenous Peoples Day, we pause to honor the first peoples of this land – their histories, languages and living cultures that shape every place we stand,” said Selena Coburn, a behavioral science faculty member at Great Falls College, during a ceremony earlier today. Selena is a descendant of the Blackfeet, Klamath and Pit River tribes.
“It’ s not enough to recognize Indigenous Peoples only once a year; this day calls us to remember every day those whose homelands we occupy and to listen deeply to Indigenous leadership and knowledge,” she said. “We also have to name that recognition alone is not justice. Indigenous people have survived generations of erasure by government systems – policies that sought to silence, assimilate and remove them. Today, we stand against that erasure. We remember that Indigenous presence is not history; it’s now, it’s vibrant, it’s sovereign and it’s essential to our collective future.
Let’s carry that awareness into how we teach, how we work and how we build community – with respect, accountability and action that ensure Indigenous people are seen, heard and never erased.”
Brian Tucker, career and technical education career pathway coach at Great Falls College, also spoke during the ceremony.
“We are still here. We will always be here,” said Brian, an enrolled member of the Assiniboine Tribe. “I want to learn about everyone’s culture, and I want you to learn about mine. Ask me questions. If I know the answer, I’ll tell you. If I don’t, I’ll learn about it and get back to you and teach you.”
