We promote the Indigenous Language Fluency Transfer System (ILFTS) with hands on supports and tools. It is our explicit goal to show a pathway toward advanced fluency and support communities with creating and implementing the ILFTS.
Board Member, Elder Linguist, N̓səl̓xčin Speaker
LaRae Wiley is a member of the Colville Confederated Tribes, and she is the co-founder and Executive Director of Salish School of Spokane (SSOS). LaRae earned her BAs from Eastern Washington University in 1988 and 1990 and is a certified teacher. From 2003 through 2021, LaRae learned n̓səl̓xčin̓ (Colville Salish) as an apprentice to the late master speaker Sʕamtíc̓aʔ (Sarah) Peterson of the Lower Similkameen Indian Band. The n̓səl̓xčin̓ language was moribund (no children raised in the language) for 94 years in LaRae's family until, when she was in her late 30s, she made the commitment to bring the language back to her family and community.
Board Member, Language Activist, N̓səl̓xčin Speaker
Michele is a board member, activist and teacher. She spearheaded the "language house" model during her PhD & post doctorate research in language revitalization, UBC and SFU. She is one of the few researchers to publish about assessment. She is of mixed ancestry, Syilx (Salish) and Suyápix (European). She is a member of the Okanagan Indian Band, descended from Lucy Simla (Sʔím̓laʔxʷ) and the Richters. Though she was born and raised in the mountains of Rossland and northern BC, she felt called to move to the Okanagan desert, find Elders and become an N̓syilxčn̓ speaker at 40. She was spurred by a sense of responsibility and urgency, and the relative privilege provided by her Syilx ancestry, advanced education, and facility with languages and cultures. She quickly discovered the curriculum and mentorship of Sʕam̓tíc̓aʔ Sarah Peterson and Chris Parkin of the Salish School of Spokane.
She knew it was possible because she became fluent in Spanish during volunteer work with Mayan women’s groups in her 30’s. N̓syilxčn̓ is much more complex and takes upwards of 2,000 hours rather than the 500 hours required by Spanish (see her thesis, 1,000 hours to fluency…). She dedicated her professional career to building N̓syilxčn̓ fluency in herself and student cohorts, providing excellent instruction and assessment, and in supporting other Indigenous languages when invited to. Directly after graduating, she partnered with three Chiefs and Councils and founded and directed the Syilx Language House Association 2014-2024.
SLH was the first Canadian non-profit to be awarded full 5-year funding by the National Indian Brotherhood. It was the only organization in Western Canada to successfully deliver 400 hours of quality, intensive Indigenous Language annually to paid adult learners. Michele and her staff of learners taught Curriculum by the Salish School of Spokane. Each year, Michele assessed and graduated 8-12 learners and their teachers at true low-mid-intermediate, meaning among other things that they were capable of teaching and living full time in the language.
Since starting her PhD in 2008, the number of fluent Elders has dwindled to a dozen. Michele made and publicly shared hundreds of hours of fluent Elder recordings.
Due to language and cultural genocide, language renewal has inherent trauma reactions which show up as personal, community, and systemic forms of internal oppression. During her 15 years on the front lines of language renewal she initiated “lateral kindness” modules for her staff and students to offset the trauma response from intensive language renewal. She is happy to share what she has learned with others.
Michele learned through teaching. She is proud to be certified n̓łəqʷčin̓ (low-advanced) by Sʕam̓tíc̓aʔ Sarah Peterson and Chris Parkin of the Salish School of Spokane.
She can be found hiking, mountain biking, snowboarding, whitewater paddling, cross country skiing, playing guitar, and just staring at the mountains and the lake whenever possible.
Board Member, Language Activist, Lingít Speaker
K’èdukà Jack was born a child of the Taku, and is daughter of Yvonne Jack, and grandchild of Evelyn Jack of the Yanyeidí Clan. She is a Taku River Tlingit, and was raised in a strong family that always empowered her to hold up the Tlingit values that were taught to her from birth.
Early on in her life she moved to Whitehorse to attend school, returning every other week to spend time on the land of her people. She spent most of her summers hunting and fishing at her families camps each year.
She began to search for her language from a young age, after her grandmother passed away. She remembers always knowing in her toowú, that it was essential, and was determined to raise her children in the Tlingit Language.
After many years of searching, she began to understand how effective the colonial genocide of her people’s language and traditions really was, and continues to be. For a long time, it seemed impossible that she would become a speaker, and she watched with growing despair as the numbers of knowledge keepers, and speakers born into the language dwindled.
In 2014 she was introduced to a way of learning that was specifically designed for endangered indigenous languages. Through this effective methodology, she found a way to not only learn Lingít, but teach it as well. Even at a beginner level she was able to provide learners around her with opportunities to learn and teach together. Most importantly, she was able to spread the hope that she felt when learning in this proven way.
Since that time, she has moved home to the Taku River Tlingit Territory, where she lives and works every day to revitalize the traditions and language of her people. She intends to raise her children in the language, and continues to dedicate her life energy to empowering those around her, and the generations to come.
Executive Director, Language Revitalization Expert, Bavarian Speaker
Sonja has been supporting Indigenous communities on their language revitalization journeys for nearly two decades. Her work in language revitalization is informed by a keen interest in continued growth, accountability, and learning. She deeply believes in the power of human connection and in the power of one’s own language as a vehicle for connection.
Born in a little mountain town in Bavaria, Sonja grew up hearing Upper Bavarian spoken by her parents and relatives. She was discouraged from speaking it in school and in further education under the premise of "being able to succeed", so she never became a fluent speaker. Understanding that this experience of language loss is just a very faint echo of the genocidal experience Indigenous peoples have been (and are) experiencing, leading to the erasure of linguistic and cultural identities, it gives her a small insight into the struggles to reclaim one's birthright language.
Outside of language work you can find her gardening, hiking on the ancestral lands of the Sinixt, practicing Aikido, reading, and spending time with her partner and kids.
Business Director, Language Revitalization Expert, N̓səl̓xčin Speaker
Christopher is the Principal and Business & Grants Manager at Salish School of Spokane. Chris holds undergraduate degrees in Spanish and Social Studies Education from Eastern Washington University, and he is an advanced speaker of N̓səl̓xčin̓ (Colville Salish). Chris is a leading expert in Interior Salish language revitalization and curriculum development and is the co-designer and co-author of the materials that make up the Indigenous Language Fluency Transfer System (ILFTS) that has been developed for n̓səl̓xčin̓ and its sister language, n̓sélišcn̓ (Spokane-Kalispel Salish). He acts as a consultant for other indigenous language communities across North America and in Australia.
Chris speaks n̓səl̓xčin̓ with his two children and five grandchildren. He lives in Spokane, Washington with his wife of 41 years, LaRae Wiley (Sinixt), a Colville tribal member and the co-founder and former Executive Director of Salish School of Spokane.