Graduates are transformed into intermediate speakers with deep cultural awareness and are a new generation of teachers. Stay tuned, follow us on Facebook, & see Opportunities for upcoming evening language and culture classes and future cohort postings.
Current Programs
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, SLH has embraced online learning. This has expanded our reach and accessibility to community members across our large territory, including those stateside, as our territory spans the US-Canadian border.
SLH offers 1-yr beginner (N1-C2) & 1-yr intermediate (N3) programs, in two separate cohorts.
Class time includes immersion curriculum, field trips, and Elder time.
Beginners' evening classes are also periodically offered to the community for those who want to get their toes wet in the language.
SLH offers 1-yr beginner (N1-C2) & 1-yr intermediate (N3) programs, in two separate cohorts.
Class time includes immersion curriculum, field trips, and Elder time.
Beginners' evening classes are also periodically offered to the community for those who want to get their toes wet in the language.
2024 n̓tłtłčin̓ Beginner & Intermediate Cohorts
2023/2024 n̓tłtłčin̓ Beginner Cohort
14 brave new language learners walked the path towards 400 hours of immersion
2023/2024 n̓tłtłčin̓ Intermediate Cohort
9 students from previous Beginner Cohorts pushed toward the Intermediate curriculum
Past Cohorts
2023 n̓tłtłčin̓ Beginner Cohort
19 courageous learners committed 550 hours of immersion from May 7, 2022 to March 31, 2023. Graduation photo, below. Though we studied online, we jubilantly met to graduate.
2022 n̓tłtłčin̓ Beginner Cohort
Former Programs
2015-2019 SLH ran its first in-person four-year program (1600 hrs).
2019-2020 SLH ran a nest in partnership with the Ti K"u Ti Xilx Indigenous Association (TKTX) language nest.
2019-2020 SLH ran a nest in partnership with the Ti K"u Ti Xilx Indigenous Association (TKTX) language nest.
Four year program - 1,600 hours
The four-year program built upon years of grassroots revitalization and created a unique collaboration between Syilx Nation governments, bands, partner organizations, and community members to support a language house for adult learners. Eight new speakers graduated in June 2019. In four years, students completed 1,600 hours and built on their speaking fluency - an amazing success. Students drove on average an hour each way from their communities to attend the central location of Penticton, supported by 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, Bands and employers to attend classes two days a week for four years.
SLH delivers the nsyilxcn curriculum developed by sʕamtic̓aʔ for Paul Creek. We learn by studying, teaching, and by recording and transcribing Elders.
SLH delivers the nsyilxcn curriculum developed by sʕamtic̓aʔ for Paul Creek. We learn by studying, teaching, and by recording and transcribing Elders.
Elder InvolvementElder recordings are carefully listened to and included in our curriculum. Whenever possible, Elders visit and provide immersion.
Advanced students learn to transcribe recorded stories. Resource DevelopmentSLH generates recordings and transcriptions with Elder speakers, and creates supplemental learning resources.
At least five hours (50 stories) of stories are recorded, transcribed and shared each year. Books and audio are shared with Bands, students, libraries, schools, on this website, and the Sncәwips Museum site. |
AssessmentsSpeaking assessments were filmed each year 2015-2023, see MEDIA. After 200 hours students transform from low-beginner to mid-beginner speech; after 1,000 hours they achieve high-beginner/low-intermediate.
kʷu kłsqiʔs. We have a dream.
 tw̓iʔ kiʔláwnaʔ, skalúlaʔ, c̓ris, qʷyqʷʕayáx̌n̓, nx̌əx̌sítatkʷ, sʔímlaʔxʷ
Graduates
In June 2019, these were the graduates of the four-year program. Four-year graduates c̓arís 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 Jasmine Peone WFN st’aʔqʷálqs Hailey Causton WFN sn̓paʔqcín Dawn Machin OKIB sk̓awílx Sarah Alexis OKIB skʷn̓kʷin̓m 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 the late kiʔláwnaʔ Andrew McGinnis.
We are so grateful to kiʔláwnaʔ and all the Elders who share their stories. |
TKTX Language Nest
SLH's first full-time immersion domain was formed in October 2019 in partnership with Ti Kʷu Ti Xilx Indigenous Association (TKTX), as a dream towards starting a full time school, which was unfortunately cut short by the Covid-19 pandemic.
The nest was a language domain for new speakers (staff, including moms) and toddlers, following an immersion nest model created by the Salish School of Spokane.
The program operated as an outdoor immersion program until November 2020, when it became an in-home and online program. SLH and TKTX staff studied adult language 10 hours a week. Kids, parents and staff learned to play, hike, cross country ski, toboggan, recognize plants, become comfortable in the outdoor environment, sing, and navigate the outdoors in n̓syilxcn̓, while working towards daycare certification.
The nest was a language domain for new speakers (staff, including moms) and toddlers, following an immersion nest model created by the Salish School of Spokane.
The program operated as an outdoor immersion program until November 2020, when it became an in-home and online program. SLH and TKTX staff studied adult language 10 hours a week. Kids, parents and staff learned to play, hike, cross country ski, toboggan, recognize plants, become comfortable in the outdoor environment, sing, and navigate the outdoors in n̓syilxcn̓, while working towards daycare certification.