[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6210710,"mediaKeyId","3716189-36adeaf8cfd2bd491da834b1d37bfa32","parentId",3716189,"title","Big Sky graduation opens with land acknowledgment; Native American Student Services drum group performs honor song","audioSeconds",4,"startMs",1715555,"endMs",1720185,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3716189-36adeaf8cfd2bd491da834b1d37bfa32&start=1715&end=1720","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3716189-36adeaf8cfd2bd491da834b1d37bfa32/thumbnail_1715555.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6210710/Montana/Big-Sky-graduation-opens-with-land-acknowledgment-Native-American-Student-Services-drum-group-performs-honor-song","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6210710-3c9dfa277680abeff46ff90304be91e4/orig.mp4?Expires=1770978697&Signature=bKOmN0CM4LU2Ic3Kqhw~yyqpiQC4dYZYeC8WH2WdU24tX6TXcBkr5JSEZ3Mv-ecYP89PQ9IFZ7qS8bPm9X5KhaiA3MNWot5KU950CYBsqMm7WDN4NV1bKIlToKdrOoV7qyImzptKRT9V2wrEhjFtkWwfxniMmrHqGcP17ybIEONcpwX806544Xxi7CDC9mw9rMB5EtRHQ1NHuUxA-LKXY1yt9cLs0MX4MGda8N4il3w9y3-WLq9oDmUqsjeCs4HGKkOsbm4aWE3zhpDO8OTuzJceQJbKdLExJ7j8DDOHlidMZCz9q14e6UEcuQ~vPHJyIDNW3uyTMnQJd880vT8UNg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Missoula County Public Schools, MT","date","2025-06-08T07:37:19Z","article","Superintendent Micah Hill and district leaders opened the Big Sky High School commencement with a land acknowledgment recognizing the Indigenous peoples who are the original stewards of the Missoula and Bitterroot valleys.

“We acknowledge that we are gathered on indigenous territory. The Missoula and Bitterroot Valleys are the original homelands of the Salish and the Pend d’Oreille (Kalispel) people who inhabited this land since time immemorial,” the superintendent said. The acknowledgment also named other tribes cited in the ceremony record: the Kootenai, Blackfeet, Shoshone and Crow.

Following the acknowledgment, the Missoula County Public Schools Native American Student Services drum group, led by Shawn Whitegrass and Brittney Hunter, performed a Native American honor song for graduates.

The principal opened the ceremony by explaining the district’s gratitude and the decision to include the honor song as part of the commencement program. The land acknowledgment and the honor song are customary elements in public events intended to recognize Indigenous communities and local history; the district explicitly linked the inclusion to respect for original stewards and their descendants who continue to live and teach in the community.

Note on transcript text: the record contains the phrase “Pendre Kalispel,” which appears to be a transcription variation; this article uses the more common spelling Pend d’Oreille (Kalispel) to reflect local usage and tribal names. The transcript also lists several tribes; the article reports those named during the ceremony.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Big Sky High School 2025 Graduation Ceremony","oneSentenceSummary","Missoula County Public Schools began the Big Sky High School commencement with a land acknowledgment naming local Indigenous peoples and an honor song performed by the district's Native American Student Services drum group.","taxTitle","Missoula Elem, School Districts, Montana","taxId",38287,"location","Montana","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6210715,"Commencement speaker Zach Murphy urges Big Sky graduates to seek connection and acknowledges personal struggles with depression",211,3522585,3734385,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3716189-36adeaf8cfd2bd491da834b1d37bfa32&start=3522&end=3734","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3716189-36adeaf8cfd2bd491da834b1d37bfa32/thumbnail_3522585.jpg","/articles/6210715/Montana/Commencement-speaker-Zach-Murphy-urges-Big-Sky-graduates-to-seek-connection-and-acknowledges-personal-struggles-with-depression","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6210715-91b38194985343c4653f6c466400a87c/orig.mp4?Expires=1770978697&Signature=ZfSlNu0vXL4ODqw~03i0ecCCSFss6iJNTCsBlcJ~27vHRyHU22ykk0skVLNic9gCYRsSU1X~QRPZupNEHdtaxQaKgEpKsdQC5mO3SCmIyA5UaPHWfLwiMurgE4wJZtLqfk5KAhr35EwbnunLR6fDmB7NaFxAndY6-ks2VSI0QEghiH-Mw4sioeP~F6YsPKC5XDArYBXRF99COAags1PgnraccH-cYKJXwJ5QjTS~BeM9NJEzBq8jTpAqQqMGGW69ynBKIgVx2jwl9RU90NDi88eM1HYjVeDzw4NQrAs7jtVDvK-vh2yrrz4lOdpJI1~nZNnD9m~FpUVc86gc5KN08Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Zach Murphy, a teacher and the 2025 commencement speaker at Big Sky High School, told graduates on May 20 that while older generations can offer guidance, today’s students will face problems their elders did not, and it will be up to them to solve those challenges.

“None of us grew up with social media being around from the moment we were born,” Murphy said. “...it will be up to you to solve the complex issues and problems that face you personally and your generation as a whole.”

Murphy told the assembled graduates and families that connection and vulnerability are central to being human. He urged graduates to be “the reason someone smiles” and to thank the people who have supported them.

In a direct personal disclosure, Murphy said: “Since I was in my late teens, I have at times struggled with episodes of abnormal sadness,” and described how relationships with students, colleagues and family have helped him through difficult periods. He encouraged graduates to recognize the power of small daily connections — examples he cited by name included Cale Burkhalter, Colin Curley, Derek Johnson, Emmy Newhouse and Ryan Papama — and to thank people who made a difference in their lives.

Murphy also read a note from a former student, cited resilience and urged graduates to continue showing up when challenges arise. His remarks combined practical advice about changing technology with personal appeals around mental health and human connection.","Teacher and commencement speaker Zach Murphy told the Big Sky High School class of 2025 that their generation will face novel challenges in technology and social media, and he urged graduates to prioritize human connection; Murphy also spoke openly about his own experience with episodes of significant sadness.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6210719,"Missoula County Public Schools presents Big Sky High School class of 2025 as having met diploma requirements",892,3176185,4069180,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3716189-36adeaf8cfd2bd491da834b1d37bfa32&start=3176&end=4069","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3716189-36adeaf8cfd2bd491da834b1d37bfa32/thumbnail_3176185.jpg","/articles/6210719/Montana/Missoula-County-Public-Schools-presents-Big-Sky-High-School-class-of-2025-as-having-met-diploma-requirements","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6210719-f6c333bc9f8ede70fe1b91b4c1edea6d/orig.mp4?Expires=1770978697&Signature=mKUFF99w4PxxhQGnwzhof4-P99pfqBTbtky9-bkDUrLOvX6B7G~2Hr8CtTBLHJCAmo3t3bHgzTI9SI-zGJ4fX2NhPLi8qrW71-BBTEY3AOuW7-2KEGJRCyLNlHpNQH-qhYgJ0UUb3xV5bNS7~8pW7Pekd5hlLUHivZE0oE5xFb0KkKA5~VdC5KA-JhwJe6koPocWHY6aISbzdH~AJlqBv5K0Ia9uJ2ofYUZzjNMfPM7gSHOFEvXACW2JP8WeH0iLNKiuK0NIp2vhT0DYc~uyIBo05qopVQpcbskYuDpnBxrufXg9nY4Ig9SkbKjaAaFbZAP5yWfc2NRsOzLzRbfYDQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","By the authority vested in me by the state of Montana and the Office of Public Instruction, I present to you, the board of trustees for Missoula County Public Schools, the members of the Big Sky High School class of 2025 as having fulfilled all of the requirements and obligations to be awarded a diploma from Missoula County Public Schools, Superintendent Micah Hill said during the Big Sky High School commencement on May 20, 2025.

The presentation formally recognized the seniors as having met the district and state training and coursework requirements for graduation. Principal Jennifer Courtney introduced Micah Hill and the Missoula County Public Schools board of trustees — Walena Oldperson, Ann Wake, Arlene Walker Andrews, Jenny Walsh and Tina Hayes — before the superintendent made the diploma presentation.

Courtney opened the ceremony by welcoming families and staff and introduced the district leadership on stage. Hill's presentation invoked the district's statutory authority and the Office of Public Instruction, the state agency that oversees K–12 standards and diploma certifications in Montana.

The ceremony included performances, student speakers and the traditional presentation of graduates. The transcript used during the ceremony includes the phrase “the 2,025 graduates of Big Sky High School,” which appears to be a transcription artifact; the superintendent presented the Big Sky High School class of 2025 but the transcript does not specify an exact class size.

No formal vote or ballot measure was associated with the diploma presentation; the action was a ceremonial, administrative declaration by the superintendent, consistent with the district's role in verifying that students have met state and district graduation requirements.

The program continued with student speeches, musical performances and the conferral of diplomas following the superintendent's presentation.","Superintendent Micah Hill formally presented the Big Sky High School graduating class of 2025 as having fulfilled state requirements for a diploma; principal Jennifer Courtney introduced district leaders and trustees during the ceremony.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Big Sky graduation opens with land acknowledgment; Native American Student Services drum group performs honor song

Commencement speaker Zach Murphy urges Big Sky graduates to seek connection and acknowledges personal struggles with depression

Missoula County Public Schools presents Big Sky High School class of 2025 as having met diploma requirements