Salish Pend d’Oreille Culture Camp brings the generations together

By B.L. Azure

April Charlo leads the young ones in a song sung in Salish as part of the Native American Language Teaching Institute. Charlo is enrolled in the SKC teacher education program and NALTI to become a teacher of the Salish language. (B.L. Azure photo)

ST. IGNATIUS — The Salish Pend d’Oreille Longhouse here was busier than a beehive last week with people of all ages buzzing from activity to activity at the language and culture camp.

The weeklong camp, which was shortened to three days due to the death of a tribal member, exposes participants to the language, culture and craft of the Salish people through various hands-on projects and classes.

This year the Native American Language Teaching Institute at Salish Kootenai College played a major role in the camp. They had four fun learning stations - music, games, art and language - for children and adults. The four learning stations were manned by four student teachers from the NALTI based at Salish Kootenai College. It is halfway through a three-year grant funded by the federal Administration for Native Americans.

The NALTI has the mission of: training fluent Salish language speakers to be more effective teachers of the Salish language; increasing the fluency level of semi-fluent Salish speakers and training them to become Salish language teachers; creating a Salish language teaching curriculum; and creation of a sustainable educational organization with the goal of teaching the Salish language.

Maxine Michel helps Geraldine Vallee Owen with a dress that Owen is making for the Old Style Day at the Arlee Celebration. (B.L. Azure photo)"

“We want to be a part of the culture camp so we could showcase what we do and how we work with the children,” said Josh Brown NALTI director. “This is also an opportunity for the student teachers to apply what they have been learning in the classroom. We want to make the learning experience fun for them.”

The NALTI Salish language teachers are enrolled on the teacher education program at SKC and will in essence have a minor or emphasis in Salish attached to their BA in education. This is the first of its kind program in the state.

“The bottom line is to create a highly effective educator who can teach the Salish language,” said Josh Brown, NALTI director. “The goal is to see Salish language teachers in all (Flathead) reservation schools. In order for the language to be taught in more schools there has to be more teachers.”

Brown said time is of the essence when it comes to salvation of the Salish language. There are, to his estimation 50-60 fluent Salish speakers and the vast majority of them are more than 60 years old.

“We have a five to 10 year window of opportunity. The numbers are dwindling as people pass on,” Brown said, adding that there has to be a wide base of support to help ensure the salvation of the Salish language. That support base includes the tribal community, the tribal government, tribal social services and tribal housing, among others to help with the NALTI mission. It costs money and any kind of assistance is appreciated. “We need to prioritize the Salish speakers and give them the support needed. I would like to see a real comprehensive plan where the fluent speakers are given good support for an array of things needed so they can focus on teaching the Salish language.

Brown said the CSKT Council and SKC have been very supportive of the goal of saving the Salish language which in essence saves the spirit and ways of the Salish people. The days gone by are so important to the days of now.

“There seems to be a void that exists for some young people. We believe that we should fill the void with language and culture so they could become better people,” Brown said. “There is lots of evidence that shows revitalization of the tribal language revitalizes the tribal community.”

Brown cited the Maori tribal people of New Zealand as an excellent example where revitalized language and culture efforts passed the spirit of a people to its young people. It provided them with a new sense of identity based on the traditional ways of the Maori.

Mike Durglo, Sr. and Eneas Vanderberg do some sewing of buckskin while at the Salish Pend d’Oreille Culture Camp. (B.L. Azure photo)

“The Salish language will always be a direct link back to the ancestors, our culture, our history, our place,” Brown said. “Without that connection we are missing a vital part of who we are. With it we no longer wonder, we know who we are.”

Pat Pierre, Pend d’Oreille elder and Salish language teacher at Nkwusm Salish Language Immersion School agreed.

“The culture camp is important because it helps keep the tribal community together. People of all ages are here,” Pierre said “Too many times these days young people don’t interact like this. This keeps the older ones and the young people in touch with one another while it teaches our young people about our culture and language. It shows them who they are.”