Available Across the US, UK and Canada

Robin Swan
Swan Apothecary
Chapter Two

Montana

Service · Advocacy · Entrepreneurship

19952007

Montana changed everything. What began as a move became one of the most transformative chapters of Robin's life.

Robin Swan on horseback in Montana
Montana years

A move that became a mission

During these years she immersed herself in tribal advocacy, public service, entrepreneurship, and community development — putting down roots in Hot Springs, a small town whose healing waters had drawn people since the 1800s.

Hot Springs, Montana — historical view, 1883
Hot Springs, Montana — 1883
Tribal Advocacy & Public Service

Seven reservations, one purpose

Working with Cherish Our Indian Children, a nonprofit serving all seven Montana reservations, Robin became part of a team that secured more than three million dollars in funding through the Kellogg Foundation.

The work extended far beyond grant writing. She became a bridge between tribal governments, state agencies, community leaders, and families seeking meaningful change. Programs focused on diabetes prevention, wellness education, cultural preservation, exercise, meditation, and community empowerment.

Healing is not just personal. It is cultural. It is economic. It is communal.

The Entrepreneurial Spirit

Build community, leave things better

At the same time, Robin's entrepreneurial spirit flourished. She opened Kalispell's first full-service salon, introducing an entirely new wellness experience to the region. Soon afterward she founded Barking Dog Incorporated, which became the parent company for multiple successful ventures.

Hot Chili Mama Salsa
Food venture
Delicious Delites
Award-winning gluten-free chocolate cake
The Fireside Bistro
Restaurant
Fahrenheit Hot Glass Studio
Montana's first off-hand glass-blowing studio
Barking Dog Incorporated logo
Barking Dog Incorporated

Each business reflected the same instinct: create something meaningful, build community, and leave things better than you found them.

Public Service · Hot Springs

Council chambers and Pow Wow grounds

Robin also served on the Hot Springs City Council. She helped secure more than a million dollars in funding for infrastructure improvements, literacy programs, and economic development initiatives.

Working alongside tribal elders, she helped restore the Pow Wow to the Hot Springs Homesteader Fair, generating more than one hundred thousand dollars in revenue for the local economy while strengthening cultural connections throughout the region.

Business. Government. Community. Healing. For Robin, they were never separate pursuits. They were different expressions of the same mission.