Distinctly Montana Magazine
Issue link: https://digital.distinctlymontana.com/i/20776
AK E CS A H T R BY SHAWN JOHNSON AND NINA CHAMBERS When Andy Blackwater, an elder in the Kainai (Blood Tribe) in Alberta, talks about Chief Moun- tain, it’s clear he has a profound and indelible connection to the imposing landmark: “I am a part of Chief Mountain, and it is a part of me.” Wayne Stetski, director of the East Kootenay Conservation Program, is resolute that he has found “heaven on earth” in the mountain valleys of Southeast British Columbia. Rhonda Fitzgerald, owner of the Garden Wall Inn in Whitefish, Montana, bubbles with enthusiasm as she talks about how targeted tourism can preserve what she calls the Montana brand: unspoiled nature, charming small towns, and breathtaking experiences. In different forms, people and organizations from throughout the Crown of the Continent share an abiding connection to the landscape. More often than not, howev- er, these people are not connected to one another. Cultural differences, international boundaries, mixed ownership pat- terns, diverse public management regimes, and the rugged landscape itself act as barriers to mutual understanding and a shared identity. Helping bring people together and mak- ing the connection between people and the landscape was the driving force behind a recent policy report and confer- ence of the same name, Remarkable Beyond Borders. The report describes the unparalleled features of the Crown’s landscape and communities, highlights the 24 DISTINCTLY MONTANA • WINTER 2011 L E N H A R T P H EN E N O OE TN I R D W P I TN E L N E SE O N O M A LB P C A D F E T C