spq̓niʔ,
month,
moon,
sun,
clock

This book is an extension of my 2025 Salish calendar, with each month illustrated based on its Salish name. For Indigenous cultures, time is measured through the natural world, seasonal cycles, moon phases, and the movement of animals, not fixed dates.

In the Bitterroot Salish language, the word spq̓niʔ means month, moon, sun, and clock. This reflects a view of time that is cyclical, fluid, and rooted in nature. Signs like salmon returning, bitterroot blooming, and changing weather guide when to gather, hunt, or celebrate.

The Bitterroot Salish homeland stretches from Idaho’s Bitterroot Range to Montana’s Continental Divide. This land once supported a seasonal way of life. After colonization and forced relocation, those movements were restricted. Today, the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, including the Pend d’Oreille, live on the Flathead Reservation in western Montana. Despite displacement, many continue to follow seasonal traditions that reflect the teachings of the Salish calendar.

Though the Bitterroot Salish adapted to the Gregorian calendar, they preserved their traditional ways of keeping time. Many now move between both systems, staying connected to ancestral knowledge while navigating modern life.

As an urban Native, creating these calendars has helped me reconnect with my culture. Researching and illustrating each month has deepened my understanding of Salish values and strengthened my ties to community.

This book expands on that journey. Each spread reflects an aspect of traditional timekeeping, linked to weather, food, or seasonal practices.

For Indigenous peoples, time is more than dates, it’s a relationship with the land. This book offers a way to reflect on how we experience time and invites others to consider a slower, more intentional rhythm rooted in place and tradition.