Jul 17, 2024
A $10,000.00 gift from the FNDI, made possible through the Sunderland Foundation’s generous support, will support the Kalispel Language and Culture Alliance (KCLA) efforts.
The work of the Kalispel Language and Culture Alliance returns Kalispel language to the community’s daily life. Through the creation of language spaces, schools, and language tools, developing the next generation of speakers and teachers, bringing the language back into the lives of the community.
The wisdom and knowledge of Kalispel Elders will be passed on to future generations in their indigenous language. Committed to using our resources to make things better for the community, informed by our past, adapting to the present, and looking toward our future. Kalispel Language and Culture Alliance connects us to our land and our community, supporting future generations.
The KCLA’s Native Language Immersion Initiative will serve K-5 students attending the Snyoyoʔspuʔúsm Language Immersion School and create staff development for language teachers, including mentoring by Tribal Elders. The curriculum developed through the project will be used throughout the Tribe’s language immersion programs.
The project will increase the presence of language in the community and the number of Kalispel language speakers helping to revitalize and retain the Kalispel language and creating language connections in the community and within families where language may have been lost. The curriculum and learning path will be shared with other interior Salish-speaking tribes.
For more information, please contact:
JR Bluff Language Director, jrbluff@Kalispeltribe.com, 509-447-7294