Connection: In The Schools

A coalition of Washington state tribal educators is pushing the need for tribal languages in their children’s schools.

The First Peoples Language Committee meets regularly to put together a list of recommendations for the state school system. Participants include Colville and Spokane tribal members.

Besides trying to get native languages taught in public schools, the committee is looking to establish standards for how those languages are taught.

In the past, much of the burden has fallen upon tribal elders, and not every fluent speaker makes for a skilled teacher, the group says.

On the Spokane and Coeur d’Alene Indian reservations, fluent-speaking elders are at the core of tribal language programs.

In the Coeur d’Alene Tribe, employees have access to college-level language courses on their reservation. The language is also taught in the public schools there, said Bob Bostwick, tribal press secretary.

“The tribe’s put a tremendous effort into keeping the language healthy,” Bostwick said.

Tribal employees often compete with other departments in good-natured games of saying words and phrases correctly. Elders act as judges.

In Spokane, tribal elders can use computer programs that speak and help new students pronounce Salish words.

High school students in Wellpinit on the reservation also have the option of attending college language classes at a tribal college near their school.