Women’s Work: Celebrating the Influence and Contributions of Women on Montana’s Heritage and Culture

Women’s Work Making Montana By Mary Murphy, Professor of History, Montana State University Montana women are nothing if not resourceful. Since the first encounters between indigenous peoples and white settlers, women’s work has shaped this place we call Montana. For the most part, we think of the Treasure State as …

Beth Judy

Montana Folklife Presenter | Author, Radio Producer | Missoula, MT Beth Judy grew up in Chicago, graduated from Harvard College in 1983, and moved from Atlanta to Missoula in 1992, where she earned an MFA in Creative Writing at the University of Montana. Researching and writing her book Bold Women in Montana …

Mariah Gladstone, Indigenous Chef, Food Activist

Montana Folklife Demonstrator Indigikitchens | Kalispell, MT Mariah Gladstone (Blackfeet, Cherokee) grew up in Northwest Montana. She graduated from Columbia University with a degree in Environmental Engineering and returned home where she developed Indigikitchen, an online cooking show dedicated to re-indigenizing diets using digital media. Indigikitchen is a portmanteau of …

Bev Gilger

Montana Folklife Demonstrator Metal Engraver | Dubois, ID Thirty-four years ago, Bev Gilger started Dubois Leather, a leather shop in Dubois, Idaho. It was there she met her husband Steve and together they repaired shoes and saddles and built custom boots for 20 years. Then one Christmas, Bev got an …

Callie Kellem, Leatherworker

Montana Folklife Demonstrator Kellem Custom Works | Sheridan, MT Callie Kellem is a custom leatherworker currently residing in Sheridan Montana. She is also an EMT, federally certified aircraft mechanic, backcountry wrangler, camp worker in Montana and Alaska, and experienced world traveler. One may think all of these credentials seem unrelated …

Brigid & Johnny Reedy

Montana Traditions Stage Performer | Whitehall, MT Featured at the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering in Elko, Nevada for the past six years, Brigid Reedy has become a singular young voice representing her beloved home state of Montana. Brigid is credited in recent books by Aaron Parrett and Charlie Seemann as …

Halladay Quist

Montana Traditions Stage Performer | Kalispell, MT Musician, model and actress Halladay Quist was born and raised under the Swan Mountains in Montana, living the life of a traveling musical gypsy and loving the hum of a big bus engine under her feet. The daughter of a famous musician Rob Quist, harmonies …

Tracy Morrison

Montana Traditions Stage Performer | Boise, ID Tracy Morrison is a folksinger-songwriter and storyteller known for writing powerful laments and story songs about the American West. Many of her songs reflect the struggle and perseverance of historical western women such as Polly Bemis who was shipped to America from China by the slave trade, …