SLH History & Mission

As Syilx people in the Syilx Nation, learning N̓syilxčn̓ is our act of reconciliation. SLH was founded in 2015 to meet the fundamental need expressed by Elders, the PIB comprehensive community plan, bands, and families, for new fluent adult speakers. Our mission is to create new fluent N̓syilxčn̓ (Syilx, Salish, Okanagan, Sinixt, N̓səl̓xčin̓) speakers, record Elders, provide a safe learning environment, act with professionalism, lateral kindness, and reflect our deep sqilxʷ teachings. We provide sequenced immersion with trained teachers, world-class curriculum, and a community learning environment. We record our precious fluent Elders and publish the recordings each year, shared on this website. We partner with Salish School of Spokane, the leader in Salish curriculum and Indigenous non profit governance. Syilx Language House is a grassroots non-profit charitable society, founded by the E.D., band partners and the board to carry on the work of language revitalization for the people-to-be. Loss of language has been devastating to and communities are in a critical state of language loss, dis-ease, and generational trauma response which affect us all, including at the organizational level. The SLH founder spearheaded the n̓ql̓xʷčn̓iłxʷ "language house" model during their PhD & post doctorate research at UBC (2008-2013) and Simon Fraser University (2015-2018). A thriving Indigenous language is proven to offset the ongoing deep traumas in our communities, is part of the healing of community, and is linked to lower rates of youth suicide. The intensive fluency program served twelve adults per year in-person from 2015-2020, when it transitioned to zoom. Being online served a larger number of dedicated learners. All current staff were recruited during the online phase. In 2023/24 the program doubled in size to thirty students, all paid to learn language. Studying language and professional conduct make us stronger. Our language strengthens the health of our communities, the Syilx Nation, land-based knowledge, and expresses our title & rights. 

N̓syilxčn̓

N̓syilxčn̓ is an Interior Salish language spoken by Syilx and Sinixt people. It is critically endangered with fewer than 40 fluent Elders, a few handfuls of intermediate-advanced speakers in Canada, and a group of nearly 100 fluent teachers and children at the immersion school Salish School of Spokane. The N̓syilxčn̓ language speaking territory stretches across the Interior Plateau from Revelstoke BC to northern Washington. There are seven Syilx Nation Bands in Canada: Okanagan Indian Band OKIB, Westbank First Nation WFN, Penticton Indian Band PIB, Osoyoos Indian Band OIB, Lower Similkameen Indian Band LSIB, Upper Similkameen Indian Band USIB, Upper Nicola Indian Band UNIB. There are six N̓syilxčn̓ speaking tribes in the U.S., the Sʔukʷnaqinx (Okanagan), Sn̓ʕay̓čkstx (Sinixt / Arrow Lakes), Mətxʷu (Methow), Nspil̓m̓ (Nespelem), Sn̓pʕaw̓ilx (Sanpoil), and Sx̌ʷy̓iłp (Colville) nation members, all members of the Colville Confederated Tribes CCT (WA), which has 12 tribes. 

Our team


Sʔím̓laʔxʷ Michele Johnson PhD, an avid mountaineer and snow enthusiast, is the founder and was Executive Director, lead activist and teacher from 2015 to 2025. A member of Okanagan Indian Band, related to Simlas and Richters, with one Syilx ancestor, they always knew there was much to be learned. In 2008, at the age of 41, Michele enrolled in a PhD and moved to the Okanagan to learn and contribute. When they discovered a beautiful language that was critically endangered, with fewer than 100 speakers, they set a personal goal to become fluent and bring ten adults to fluency with them. It was a monumental task. Michele became n̓łəqʷčin̓ (high-intermediate/low-advanced) through Sʕam̓tíc̓aʔ Peterson's mentorship and curriculum, the revered Elder of the Salish School of Spokane (Paul Creek). Language work for Michele was a deeply spiritual path and act of service. Michele juggled fundraising each year, researched best practices, governance, managed, taught, and administered of all the moving pieces. In 2025, after a decade and a half of service, Michele was called back to the mountains. The board and staff lead SLH in a community direction. 

Xʷačúʔ Allan Lindley is the grandchild of Lottie and Isaac Lindley, from the Upper Nicola Band. They have been a language learner since they were young, and found SLH during the online program. They would listen to their grandmother tell stories and share wisdom, some of which would be published in Okanagan Grouse Woman, by Lottie Lindley and Dr. John Lyon. Xʷačúʔ is a co-teacher, student, transcriber, and provides cultural support to learners. 

Lɣmin Lance Hilderbrand is an Okanagan/Sinixt Colville member from Omak, and found us during the online program. Lɣmin is a co-teacher, learns thru co-teaching, conducts recording sessions with fluent Elders and provides general support, especially with tech, and more recently, administration. He is grateful to learn the language of his great-grandma Christine Williams. 

Stsaqwm̓ Rosalyn Wilson met us during our last in-person evening class, held at WFN. She is a  teaching assistant, co-teacher, student and provides general admin support. A word geek who was raised in the Okanagan, with Euro ancestry, she appreciates hearing N̓syilxčn̓ as the language of the land throughout Syilx Territory. She is grateful for the Elders’ generosity in sharing and for the opportunity to deepen her learning through transcribing their stories.

Sqawaʔłlwút Alexis G. Tonasket is Colville Okanagan and lives in the Spokane, WA area. A c0-teacher and student at SLH, a parent, artist, activist and advocate for language and social justice. Sqawaʔłlwút is named after their great-great grandma who spoke fluent Halkomelem (Coast Salish).

Sn̓sałqʷ Jesse Helfrick is a co-teacher and student at SLH, and co-instructed with Sʔím̓laʔxʷ at Okanagan College, a rare in-person endeavour for SLH in 2023. He feels tremendous gratitude to be learning the language of this land and help with recordings and teaching. 

Sník̓łc̓aʔ Theo McKee is a descendant of USIB from Colville, Washington. His mother is Melissa McKee, and his grandparents are Rick Holmes and Marty Marchand. He is a teaching assistant, student, conscientious transcriber and editor. As well as studying at SLH, he is working towards his BA in First Nations Endangered Languages at UBC Vancouver. 

Smuʔkaxn Morgan is a WFN member, assistant teacher, learner and university student at UBC. In 2023/24 he took the beginner and intermediate courses simultaneously, over zoom, a heavy lift. 

Mlqnups Dylan Wilson is an OKIB member living in Enderby. He is a learner at the intermediate level, online, and taught an online evening language program to a cohort of OKIB hockey players.

Yutl̓x skłmqinx Lindsay Ravensong is Sinixt and Syilx. She came to the SLH in 2023, and is adding her ancestral language of Nsyilxcn to the list of twelve languages she has mastered. When she arrived SLH was a fully online zoom based program.

​Tracey Schwartz CPA is the SLH Bookkeeper, living in Falkland. By keeping our financial records, she gifts us the space to focus on language. 

​Previous staff:
Sʔím̓laʔxʷ Michele Johnson PhD - founder, E.D., teacher 2015-2025
Smx̌ikən Stacey Donovan - teacher 2021-2022
K̓aʔčnítkʷ Rachel Ritchot - teacher 2021-2023​
​sqʷy̓tal̓qs Angie Pinchbeck - teacher 2021-2023
Skəkm̓xísaʔt Sofia Terbasket-Funmaker - teacher, nest staff 2018-2020
St̓k̓masq̓t Skye Fay - learner, nest staff 2018-2020
Swʕaʔ Kylie Jack - learner, nest staff 2019-2020
​Xatma Sqilxʷ Jasmine Peone - learner, cultural support, nest support
​Qʷy̓qʷʕay̓áx̌n Levi Bent - teacher, recording expert 2016-2018
​Sk̓awílx Sarah Alexis - learner, admin support 2016-2018
Board of Directors
C̓uc̓uʔasq̓t Pamela Barnes - co-chair (2015-current)
Łílat Jessica Chillihitzia
sqʷy̓tal̓qs Angie Pinchbeck - co-chair 
​Pk̓am̓ Dustin Schmauder
​​LaRae Wiley N̓ʔiy̓sítatkʷ (served 2023/2024) Salish School founder 

Contact us

Syilx Language House 


Mailing address

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Immersion classes are held on Zoom. We welcome visitors and hold regular community events. Interested learners are encouraged to contact us. To learn, self study by downloading N̓səlxčín 1 textbook and audio at www.interiorsalish.com (click Nselxcin Curriculum).