Opportunity: Feb 2024 Beginner Evening Classes!

Our Mission

As Syilx people, located within the Syilx Nation, learning N̓syilxčn̓ is our act of reconciliation and resistance. Our mission is to create new fluent N̓syilxčn̓ (Syilx, Salish, Okanagan, N̓səl̓xčin̓) speakers in the Syilx Nation, 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. Our empowered speaking community partners with Salish School of Spokane, the OIB Language House, and local schools. Syilx Language House is a grassroots non-profit charitable society, supported by Syilx communities to carry on the work of language revitalization for the people-to-be. Our language strengthens our families, the health of our communities, our youth, Syilx Nation, land-based knowledge, and expresses our title & rights.  

N̓syilxčn̓

N̓syilxčn̓ is an Interior Salish language and is critically endangered with fewer than 40 fluent Elders, and only a few handfuls of intermediate-advanced speakers. The Syilx Nation stretches across the Interior Plateau from Revelstoke BC to northern Washington. There are seven Syilx 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. Syilx members in the U.S. are represented by the Colville Confederated Tribes CCT (WA), which has 12 tribes including six N̓syilxčn̓ speaking tribes, the Sʔukʷnaqinx (Okanagan), Sn̓ʕay̓čkstx (Sinixt / Arrow Lakes), Mətxʷu (Methow), Nspil̓m̓ (Nespelem), Sn̓pʕaw̓ilx (Sanpoil), and Sx̌ʷy̓iłp (Colville) nation members.

Our team


Sʔím̓laʔxʷ  Michele Johnson PhD is Executive Director, lead activist and teacher. She is a member of Okanagan Indian Band, related to Simlas and Richters with Syilx and Suyápix (Euro) ancestry. She is certified n̓łəqʷčin̓ (high-intermediate) by Sʕam̓tíc̓aʔ Peterson and Chris Parkin of the Salish School of Spokane (Paul Creek). She spearheaded the n̓ql̓xʷčn̓iłxʷ "language house" model during her PhD & post doctorate research in Indigenous language revitalization at UBC and SFU. When not manifesting language, fundraising, or tobogganing in N̓syilxčn̓ with toddlers, she can be found hiking, mountain biking, cross country skiing and playing guitar. 

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. 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. Xʷačuʔ is a co-teacher, student, transcriber, and provides cultural support at SLH.

Stsaqwm' Rosalyn Wilson is our head teaching assistant, co-teacher, student and provides general admin support. A word geek who was raised in the Okanagan, she looks forward to hearing N̓syilxčn̓ re-take its place 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.

Lɣmin Lance Hilderbrand is an Okanagan/Sinixt Colville member from Omak. He conducts recording sessions with fluent Elders and learns thru co-teaching in addition to providing general support, especially with tech. He is grateful to learn the language of his great-grandma Christine Williams.

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 Helfrich is a co-teacher and student at SLH, and co-instructor with Sʔím̓laʔxʷ at Okanagan College. He conducts recording sessions with fluent Elders, particularly Victor Antoine. He feels tremendous gratitude to be learning to speak 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

Mlqnups

​Tracey Schwartz CPA is our Bookkeeper. She is a committed member of our team. By keeping our financial records, she gifts us the space to focus on language. 

​Previous staff:
Smx̌ikən Stacey Donovan
K̓aʔčnítkʷ Rachel Ritchot​
​Sqʷy̓tal̓qs Angie Pinchbeck
Skəkm̓xísaʔt Sofia Terbasket-Funmaker 
St̓k̓masq̓t Skye Fay 
Swʕaʔ Kylie Jack
​Xatma Sqilxʷ Jasmine Peone
​Qʷy̓qʷʕay̓áx̌n Levi Bent
​Sk̓awílx Sarah Alexis
Board of Directors:
C̓uc̓uʔasq̓t Pamela Barnes
Łilat Jessica Chillihitzia
Sqʷy̓tal̓qs Angie Pinchbeck
​Pk̓am̓ Dustin Schmauder
​​LaRae Wiley

Contact us

Syilx Language House 
[email protected]
[email protected]

Mailing address
PO Box 23034 
Vernon BC
Canada V1T 9L8
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Immersion classes are held regularly on Zoom. We welcome visitors and hold regular community events. Interested learners are encouraged to contact us and to download N̓səlxčín 1 textbook and audio at www.interiorsalish.com.