The learning is transformational. Beginners transform into intermediate speakers and a new generation of teachers. We deliver a four year, 1,600 hour, program using a proven curriculum and intensive immersion. We record Elders, publish advanced language materials, raise awareness, and lobby for larger cohorts of successful programs across our Syilx Nation.
NEW COHORT OPPORTUNITY
2021 n'tłtłčin̓ COHORT
Our new cohort has started! 16 courageous learners have committed to 550 hours of immersion from April 6 2021 to April 7 2022. If you have previously completed Nsyilxcn 1, you can still jump in.
Our new cohort has started! 16 courageous learners have committed to 550 hours of immersion from April 6 2021 to April 7 2022. If you have previously completed Nsyilxcn 1, you can still jump in.
1,600 Hours to create Intermediate Speakers
The four-year program built upon years of grassroots revitalization work and created a unique collaboration between Syilx Nation governments, bands, partner organizations, and community members to support a language house for young adult learners. Eight new speakers graduated from the program in June 2019. The four-year fluency program was delivered in Penticton BC. Students completed 1,600 hours and achieved intermediate speaking fluency - an amazing success story. Students travelled from their communities to attend. Supporters included the Penticton Indian Band, Westbank First Nation, Osoyoos Indian Band, First Peoples Culture Council, and in-kind contributions from OKIB, LSIB, and the Okanagan Nation Alliance. Our first cohort of 12 adults started in September 2015 and graduated in June 2019. Students were supported by Bands and employers to attend classes two days a week for FOUR years. We deliver the Nsyilxcn Curriculum developed by the Salish School of Spokane (Paul Creek), and learn by recording and transcribing Elders.
Salish School of Spokane (Paul Creek) Salish curriculum is cutting edge and follows a proven fluency model (www.interiorsalish.com).
Salish School of Spokane (Paul Creek) Salish curriculum is cutting edge and follows a proven fluency model (www.interiorsalish.com).
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AssessmentsSpeaking assessments are filmed each year and shared on YouTube. After 200 hours students transformed from low-beginner to mid-beginner speech; after 1,000 hours they achieved high-beginner/low-intermediate.
Envisioning a Future of SpeakersImagine a meeting in one of our member communities four years from now —there is an ongoing land title discussion in the court system. Someone is needed who can speak to the land-based messages embedded in our captíkʷł story system in order to prove rights and title within unceded Syilx territory. A young, well-dressed, articulate woman steps up, a recent graduate of the Syilx Language House. She is 25 years old and completed her Bachelor’s degree in Indigenous governance and law while studying in the language house.
She says, “I am able to do this.” During her time in the Language House she learned to speak Nsyilxcn at a mid-intermediate level, record and transcribe Elders, archive materials, become a language advocate and spokesperson, intimately connected with Syilx story systems and deeply embedded language-based truths. kʷu kłsqiʔs. We have a dream. It is our dream that this story will be brought to life with the language tools being taught to our students today. 
Graduates
In June 2019, eight new speakers graduated from the four year program. All were supported by their workplaces from the beginning. The program started with 14 in September 2015, supported by Westbank First Nation, Penticton Indian Band, Sensisyusten School (WFN), Osoyoos Indian Band, School District 23 (Kelowna), and SLH, and some were volunteers. Students commuted from PIB, WFN, Kelowna, OKIB, and OIB. Graduating students are teaching new cohorts. Our dream is to create several immersion workplaces by 2024. OIB started a 4-year fluency program at the OIB Language House September 2019. Four-year graduates C’arís Jordan Coble WFN Nx̌əx̌sítatkʷ Shayla Allison LSIB Pqlqin Maynard McRae USIB Qʷayqʷʕayáx̌n Levi Bent LSIB (teacher) Skalúla Tyler Ernst USIB Suxʷkłʔúclm Sonya Jensen OIB Sq'aʔx̌əx̌ínak Sheri Stelkia OIB Sʔímlaʔxʷ Michele Johnson OKIB (teacher) Two and Three-year graduates Xaʔtma Sqilxʷ Flynn Wetton WFN St’aʔqʷálqs Hailey Causton WFN Sn̓paʔqcín Dawn Machin OKIB Sk̓awílx Sarah Alexis OKIB Səxʷt̓ums Krista Lindley OKIB Teachers: Qʷy̓qʷʕayáx̌n̓ Levi Bent Goya da Yensdih Tiana Louis Sn̓paʔqcín Dawn Machin St’aʔqʷálqs Hailey Causton Mlmltiłpálqʷs Monika Alexis X̌astítkʷ Jolene Michel Elder recording session above with our dear friend Kiʔláwnaʔ Andrew McGinnis.
Left to right: Sʔímlaʔxʷ, Nx̌əx̌sítatkʷ, Qʷyqʷʕayáx̌n̓, C̓ris, Skalúlaʔ. We are so grateful to Kiʔláwnaʔ and all the Elders who share their recordings. |