Language

The goal of the Kalispel Language Program is to protect and preserve the Kalispel language, as well as create a new generation of native language speakers. Our traditions and our language is what makes the Kalispel people what we are today. The language ties us to the land, our relations, and our past. As we set forth in our daily lives, we must remember to use our language to give us strength and identity in this ever-changing world.  In a effort to return our language to our everyday lives, we have created several online language listening and learning tools.

In 2008, Our language program received an ANA Planning grant. As you may recall, we sent these questionaires out to the membership and community to get their input on what they would like see from the language program. These surveys were used to formulate Goals and Objectives for the program. If you would like to read our 5-year Language Goals and Objectives, click here.

Here is a short video made by KSPS about our language efforts. To watch it, Click here. Also, here is cool little video made by Johnny Arlee about a mean old lady. Click here to download (278MB .mp4 file).

Current Language Activities 

Cusick Elementary (Grades 1-6)

This coming school year (2012-13) the Cusick Elementary kids will receive approximately 5 hours of language instruction per week. This will be the second year of our Elementary Immersion Language program at the Cusick School. This year we will also be in our new building that is directly across the street from the school. We are very excited for the upcoming year and look forward to another successful partnership with the Cusick School. If you would like your child to attend the elementary class, you must sign your kid up. In the Fall, we will be doing the signups. Because this class is outside of the regular scheduling, parent approval is required. The six elementary grades are split into three groups (grades 1-2, 3-4, and 5-6). Christina Hardwick it the lead instructor for the Elementary Immersion Language Classes.

Cusick JH and HS

This upcoming school year we have expanded our JH and HS classes. We are also excited to say that we will be offering Kalispel II class to eligible students. All of our JH/HS classes will also be taught across the street from the school in our new language building.  All of these students receive 5 hours of language instruction per week. Classes offered are JH Salish I, HS Salish I, Kalispel Stories I, Kalispel Stories I (Independent Study), and Kalispel II. Vickie Leach is the lead teacher for all of the JH/HS language classes although she will be helped by Christina Hardwick.

Evening Adult Class

When Fall comes around again this year we will try again to fill our adult evening class. Keep your ears and eyes open for the announcement.  If you are interested in taking the class you can contact Jessie Fountain. In the meantime, we have the Kalispel I curriculum and the Kalispel Story I curriculum online and ready for you to look at. Generally, the class meets 2 days a week for 9 months. The students will complete the Kalispel I and the first 8 stories in the Kalispel Story I curriculum.

Language Nest Parent/Teacher Class

The parent/teacher class was completed in September 2012. We are not sure when the next class will be but if you are interested in taking the class, please talk to your immediate supervisor and contact Jessie Fountain to get registered. Elizabeth Johnstone and Tapit Browneagle are the instructors for this class.

ANA Grant - Kalispel Language Nest

The Kalispel Tribe recently received an ANA Grant for a Language Nest to be located in the Camas Early Learning Center. We currently have 5 adult students enrolled in our first ever Language Intensive. These students receive intense language instructon for one year and will later staff the new language nest.  These guys are now completing their year 2 and they teach all morning down in the CELC and they continue their language learning in the afternoon. Beginning this Fall, they will be teaching 4 hours of immersion down at the CELC. The Language Nest Students are Elizabeth Johnstone, Tapit Browneagle, Teri Andrews, Sarah Deignault, and Dakota Littlecrow. Jessie Fountain is the lead instructor for this class.

Kalispel Language Intensive (Round 2)

We currently have 16 adult students enrolled in our second go-around of our language intensive. They started in March and quickly moved through the first 2 levels of the curriculum. These students receive intense language instructon 5 hours a day. This class will go for 15 months.  The students include Ray Finley, Cheryl Reese, Teri Andrews, Briana Ward, Todd Ellingburg, Sarah Daigneault, and Carol Mack. We also have some visitors who drive every day to the language office to learn the language. They are Felicia Pichette and John Bird. There are also 5 others who take the class via our polycom. They are Marsha Wynecoop, Marc Andrew, Orten Ford, Dionne Ford, and Lorena Abrahamson. Jessie Fountain is the lead instructor for this class.