N̓ty̓tyix Sy̓ʕaʔ (Salmon Tales)

The Mission of Salish School of Spokane is: Dynamic Salish Language Revitalization powering cultural renewal and building a stronger, healthier community.

We believe that we can achieve our mission by building an authentic Salish community for children, families and Elders that empowers our people to: 1) heal the effects of genocide and colonization; 2) re-establish and strengthen intergenerational cultural and social connections, and; 3) live productive, sustainable, and healthy lives.

We are achieving our mission through six interrelated programs: 1) Salish language immersion preschool and family support services for children aged 1-5 years; 2) Salish immersion schooling for children in kindergarten to 9th grade; 3) year-round evening Salish language and culture classes for the parents and community members; 4) a school-based intensive Salish Language Educator Development (SLED) program; 5) Salish language curriculum development, and; 6) technical training for other Indigenous language communities.

SSOS is not just a “school”. We are a grass-roots community organization seeking justice and striving to improve ourselves and our community using a schooling model. Just as the agents of genocide and colonization used residential boarding schools to break cultural and inter-generational connections among Salish people, we are using schooling to rebuild those same connections and ensure a better future for ourselves, children and families.