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. The ways of our people and our language helped to make the Kalispel people what we are today. The language ties us to the land, our neighbors and our past. The language encompassed all that we did. As we set forth in our daily lives we must remember this and use our language to give us strength and identity in this ever-changing world.

In regards to language acquisition and curriculum development we have many things going. We have three teachers teaching Language in the local school district (Cusick). We teach the elementary grades (K-6) at least 1 hour/week. In Jr. High and High School we teach Kalispel I and Kalispel II every day. In the evenings, we also offer a college-accredited (EWU) language class at our language center.

In language learning there are many things to do but we feel that we are making headway on most of them. We plan on creating the path for language fluency. Our goal is to return our language to our everyday lives. If you would like any more information about our language efforts or would just like to hear more please call JR Bluff at (509) 445-1147 ext 7294.