Salish School awarded $1 million to teach teens native language

The Salish School of Spokane announced Thursday it has been awarded a five-year, $1 million federal grant to help establish the Spokane Native Youth Learning Center.

The center will allow native teens, ages 14 to 18, to go to school in a strong cultural environment while becoming fluent in the Salish language.

The $200,000 to be awarded each year of the grant must be matched with $50,000 raised locally.

“With the help of our families, kids, teachers, volunteers, donors and supporters, we can launch this amazing program and make a culture-based education possible for our youth,” the school said in a Facebook post announcing the grant.

The money comes from the Obama Administration’s Native Youth Initiative for Leadership program.

The nonprofit school now offers immersion programs for children ages 1 to 11. It’s located at 4125 North Maple Street.