UM to dedicate new Native American Center

MISSOULA, Mont. (AP) – The University of Montana plans several events Thursday to celebrate the completion of The Payne Family Native American Center.

The center will house UM's Department of Native American Studies, American Indian Student Services and related campus programming.

The formal dedication ceremony will take place from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on the UM Oval in front of the center. Author and historian Joe Medicine Crow will offer the opening convocation. Other speakers include Native American activist Elouise Cobell, UM Native American studies alumnus Jon Swan and Gov. Brian Schweitzer.