Spokane Tribe working to keep Salish language alive

The Salish language is native to many of our local tribes in the Inland Northwest, but sadly, not many tribal elders are left who are fluent speakers.

Marsha Wynecoop, is the Language Program Manager for the Spokane Tribe and has been working to revitalize the language for 25 years. "The interest, especially with the youth has always been there," said Wynecoop. "We were teaching at the Wellpinit School. When we first began, the students, we had to cut back on the classes, and the students were chasing the teacher down the hallway asking why they couldn't have the language. And it was like they were just starving for to hear the language and to learn about the culture."

So in October, the Spokane Tribe launched a new pilot program, to incentivize more of their members to become advanced speakers. Like Elizabeth Johnstone, who's been learning Salish for 12 years now. "We've been really going deep into our words and what they mean," said Johnstone. "We get to learn our worldview. And, and we, we really are connecting to our ancestors and our elders and just learning who we are as a people."

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