Salish School of Spokane

Mission

Dynamic Salish Language Revitalization powering cultural renewal and building a stronger, healthier community

Description

Salish School of Spokane (SSOS) is a non-profit, charitable organization dedicated to revitalizing and preserving the Southern Interior Salish (SIS) languages. We are committed to our mission through seven interrelated programs designed to empower our community and create a sustainable future for our language and culture. Our programs for the 2024/2025 school year include:

1. Salish Immersion Preschool and Family Social Services for children ages 3-5 years.

2. Salish Immersion K-8 School for children ages 5-14 years.

3. After-School Salish Classes, Internships, Cultural Experiences, and Social Support for youth ages 14-18.

4. Evening Salish Language and Culture Classes for parents and community members of all ages.

5. Intensive Salish Language Teacher Training Program aimed at developing fluent Salish language teachers.

6. Creation, Translation, and Publication of Salish language books and curriculum materials in subjects like math, science, literacy, and culture.

7. Technical Training and Support for other Indigenous language communities across North America.

SSOS is focused on preserving the four Southern Interior Salish (SIS) languages: n̓səl̓xčin̓ (Colville-Okanagan), n̓sélišcn̓ (Spokane-Kalispel), n̓xaʔm̓xčin̓ (Wenatchee-Columbian), and sn̓čic̓úʔum̓šc̓n̓ (Coeur d'Alene), as all Salish languages are critically endangered or extinct.

Founded and operated by Salish people in the Spokane Metro Area, SSOS was created in response to the urgent need to reverse the loss of our languages. Under the leadership of co-founder and Executive Director LaRae Wiley, we have been empowering adults to learn Salish so they can teach it to their children and the next generations. This return to our language has also led to a resurgence of traditional cultural practices, such as gathering food and medicine, and winter dancing.

SSOS’s successful model has been adopted by tribes and non-profits across the Pacific Northwest and beyond. As the only Native-run educational institution in Spokane, we are uniquely positioned to address the need for high-quality, culture-based education for Native children. Through our immersion programs, we aim to break the cycles of poverty, health disparities, and educational inequities that disproportionately affect Native American communities.

As our community continues to heal from the effects of genocide and colonization, our desire to reconnect with our cultural heritage grows stronger. More and more people are seeking to revitalize our language and return to traditional practices. We believe that language is the key to strengthening families and building a resilient community.

Under the leadership of fluent Elder Sʕamtíc̓aʔ Peterson, we have developed a Salish Fluency Transfer System and Curriculum, which has been refined over 20 years (2003-2023). This system provides the technical tools needed to train new advanced fluent speakers of Southern Interior Salish, giving us the ability to rapidly expand our fluency pool when we have the necessary funding to support them during their immersion process.

Looking ahead and beyond, SSOS remains dedicated to sustaining our efforts in language revitalization, expanding our programs, and ensuring the long-term survival of Southern Interior Salish languages for future generations.