Across the reservations, a new generation is working to keep endangered languages alive. Beneath the postcard scenery lies a human story as rugged as the landscape.

Montana's tribal colleges teach language and cultural courses.

What sets it apart

Elders and students record vocabularies before they are lost. That detail is easy to overlook, but it helps explain the pull this place has on Montanans and visitors alike.

Immersion programs aim to raise new fluent speakers.

Why it matters

In the end, the story here is really a story about the northern Rockies and the people drawn to them. It is a heritage still very much alive in the towns and gatherings of today's Montana.