Kʷu səcqʷaʔqʷʔálx
SLH History & Mission
SLH was founded in 2015. Our mission is to create new fluent nsyilxcn speakers, record Elders, provide a safe learning environment, and move in partnership and good relations with the Language Kin in our Nation. We provide sequenced immersion with trained teachers, utilizing the Paul Creek curriculum, lovingly crafted for our Nation by tw̓iʔ sʕamtíc̓aʔ Sarah Peterson, in a community learning environment. We record our fluent Elders and publish the recordings each year, shared on this website. Syilx Language House is a non-profit association. A thriving Indigenous language is proven to bolster pride and mental health in our communities. At SLH we believe that our success is embedded in uplifting and shouldering the work done by our language relatives, our Elders, and our fellow programs, language houses and language learning community partners.
Our program provides classes through online forums. Being online serves a large number of dedicated learners and diasporic community members. All current staff are continuing their n̓syilxcn̓ learning. Our language strengthens the health of our communities, the Syilx Nation, land-based knowledge, and expresses our title & rights.
With new direction and leadership, SLH is fostering language growth, alongside creating a learning community dedicated to safety, humility, connection, and healing. SLH is focused on building bridges towards, and with, our community. Together, we are working towards a language future that is built on mutual support, accountability, and celebration. SLH provides language opportunities through our accessible, online, and intersectional trauma-informed model, which uniquely supports more vulnerable members of our learning community (such as 2SLGBTQQIA+, neurodivergent, disabled, older, and/or silent speaking individuals). SLH has committed to recentering Elders within our language work. We are working towards an intergenerational model that ensures our language will continue to thrive for years to come.
Our program provides classes through online forums. Being online serves a large number of dedicated learners and diasporic community members. All current staff are continuing their n̓syilxcn̓ learning. Our language strengthens the health of our communities, the Syilx Nation, land-based knowledge, and expresses our title & rights.
With new direction and leadership, SLH is fostering language growth, alongside creating a learning community dedicated to safety, humility, connection, and healing. SLH is focused on building bridges towards, and with, our community. Together, we are working towards a language future that is built on mutual support, accountability, and celebration. SLH provides language opportunities through our accessible, online, and intersectional trauma-informed model, which uniquely supports more vulnerable members of our learning community (such as 2SLGBTQQIA+, neurodivergent, disabled, older, and/or silent speaking individuals). SLH has committed to recentering Elders within our language work. We are working towards an intergenerational model that ensures our language will continue to thrive for years to come.
nqilxʷcn nsyilxcn
nqilxʷcn n̓syilxcn̓ is an Interior Salish language spoken by syilx people. The nqilxʷcn n̓syilxcn̓ 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 (UNB). Of the 12 tribes which make up the Colville Confederated Tribes (CCT) of WA, there are six nqilxʷcn n̓syilxcn̓ speaking tribes: the suknaʔqínx (Okanagan), sn̓ʕay̓ckstx (Sinixt / Arrow Lakes), mətxʷu (Methow), nspil̓m̓ (Nespelem), sn̓pʕaw̓ilx (Sanpoil), and sx̌ʷy̓iłpx (Colville).
Our team
sqawałlwut txən̓asq̓t Alexis Tonasket Hoyt ancestry is sʔukʷnaqin̓x, snpʷilx, sn̓ʕay̓ckstx, scandinavian and scottish. They are a parent & partner, a stʕamíyaʔ two-spirit person, multimedia artist and grass dancer. They have been learning through SLH for about 3 years. They are also training in facilitating cross-cultural dialogue in palús longhouse methods, applying their lifelong bi-cultural experience & perspective to support community efforts.
In Spokane, they are known for their part in the collective work on police accountability and community cultural shifts in racial justice, art and inclusion.
sqawałlwut currently lives near sƛ̓xatkʷ as a guest on the unceded territory of the spokan people.
sník̓łc̓aʔ Theo McKee (he/him) sník̓łc̓aʔ is sml̓qm̓ix, nłəʔkəpmx, and mixed Scots-Irish. He is a st̓ámyaʔ transgender youth who grew up in Colville and Spokane, Washington. He is now living in so-called "Vancouver" on Musqueam, Tsleil-Waututh, and Squamish territories. He is the son of Melissa McKee, and grandson of Rick Holmes and Marty Marchand. sník̓łc̓aʔ is a passionate visual and fiber artist, and is currently completing his Bachelor of Arts degree in First Nations Endangered Languages at UBC. While his main focus is transcription, he can also be found developing curriculum, researching, experimenting with traditional dyes, and translating poetry.
Contact: [email protected]
yutlxʷ sklm̓qinx, Lindsay Ravensong, BA History
yutlxʷ is of sn̓ʕay̓ckstx, suknaʔqínx, Swedish and Frisian descent, with ancestral roots in the Okanagan Valley through her father. She grew up in Alaska and now resides in Westbank. She is the great-granddaughter of Ida Peone (suknaʔqínx) and John Francois (sn̓ʕay̓ckstx), and a proud descendant of Hwistesmetxe'qen through his daughter Sukomalqs. Yutlxʷ is a joyful learner of languages. She comes from a long line of educators and brings a passion for decolonized learning structures as well as for the benefits to mental health and well-being of communities through language. She is also an artist, an auntie, and an advocate for individuals who experience the world differently from others.
qʷilcən Lori Pocha is LSIB, suknaʔqínx and British descent. Living in the east Kootenays. She is a wife and mother of three children. She and her family enjoy spending time on the land and on the water, hunting and fishing. Tanning hides, beadwork and making traditional medicines are expressions of her traditional artistic side. She began speaking the language in the home at an early age. In 2021 she joined the language house as a learner and now enjoys teaching while continuing to learn and speak nqilxʷcn.
mlqnups Dylan Wilson is an OKIB member living in Enderby. He is a learner and teacher of a range of morning and evening cohorts and community classes, including a cohort of OKIB hockey players.
sn̓sałqʷ Jesse Helfrick, of samaʔ descent, was born in the Okanagan and resides in kiʔláw̓naʔ. He began learning nqilxʷcn in 2022, and his work with SLH began in 2023. He feels tremendous gratitude to be learning the language of this land.
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.
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 Colville member from Omak. He began his language journey at Paschal Sherman Indian School, later resumed via a Wenatchee Valley College course taught by Cree Whelshula, and then with SLH where he was honored to learn from and record fluent Elders, especially Herman Edward. lɣmin is grateful to learn the language of his great-grandma wutmalqs Christine Williams. He currently resides on Tongva territory in California, but returns back home to fish and see family every chance he gets.
Tracey Schwartz CPA is the SLH Bookkeeper, living in Falkland. By keeping our financial records, she gifts us the space to focus on language.
In Spokane, they are known for their part in the collective work on police accountability and community cultural shifts in racial justice, art and inclusion.
sqawałlwut currently lives near sƛ̓xatkʷ as a guest on the unceded territory of the spokan people.
sník̓łc̓aʔ Theo McKee (he/him) sník̓łc̓aʔ is sml̓qm̓ix, nłəʔkəpmx, and mixed Scots-Irish. He is a st̓ámyaʔ transgender youth who grew up in Colville and Spokane, Washington. He is now living in so-called "Vancouver" on Musqueam, Tsleil-Waututh, and Squamish territories. He is the son of Melissa McKee, and grandson of Rick Holmes and Marty Marchand. sník̓łc̓aʔ is a passionate visual and fiber artist, and is currently completing his Bachelor of Arts degree in First Nations Endangered Languages at UBC. While his main focus is transcription, he can also be found developing curriculum, researching, experimenting with traditional dyes, and translating poetry.
Contact: [email protected]
yutlxʷ sklm̓qinx, Lindsay Ravensong, BA History
yutlxʷ is of sn̓ʕay̓ckstx, suknaʔqínx, Swedish and Frisian descent, with ancestral roots in the Okanagan Valley through her father. She grew up in Alaska and now resides in Westbank. She is the great-granddaughter of Ida Peone (suknaʔqínx) and John Francois (sn̓ʕay̓ckstx), and a proud descendant of Hwistesmetxe'qen through his daughter Sukomalqs. Yutlxʷ is a joyful learner of languages. She comes from a long line of educators and brings a passion for decolonized learning structures as well as for the benefits to mental health and well-being of communities through language. She is also an artist, an auntie, and an advocate for individuals who experience the world differently from others.
qʷilcən Lori Pocha is LSIB, suknaʔqínx and British descent. Living in the east Kootenays. She is a wife and mother of three children. She and her family enjoy spending time on the land and on the water, hunting and fishing. Tanning hides, beadwork and making traditional medicines are expressions of her traditional artistic side. She began speaking the language in the home at an early age. In 2021 she joined the language house as a learner and now enjoys teaching while continuing to learn and speak nqilxʷcn.
mlqnups Dylan Wilson is an OKIB member living in Enderby. He is a learner and teacher of a range of morning and evening cohorts and community classes, including a cohort of OKIB hockey players.
sn̓sałqʷ Jesse Helfrick, of samaʔ descent, was born in the Okanagan and resides in kiʔláw̓naʔ. He began learning nqilxʷcn in 2022, and his work with SLH began in 2023. He feels tremendous gratitude to be learning the language of this land.
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.
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 Colville member from Omak. He began his language journey at Paschal Sherman Indian School, later resumed via a Wenatchee Valley College course taught by Cree Whelshula, and then with SLH where he was honored to learn from and record fluent Elders, especially Herman Edward. lɣmin is grateful to learn the language of his great-grandma wutmalqs Christine Williams. He currently resides on Tongva territory in California, but returns back home to fish and see family every chance he gets.
Tracey Schwartz CPA is the SLH Bookkeeper, living in Falkland. By keeping our financial records, she gifts us the space to focus on language.
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Board of Directors
c̓uc̓uʔasq̓t Pamela Barnes (WFN) - co-chair łílat Jessica Chillihitzia (UNB) sqʷy̓tal̓qs Angie Pinchbeck (PIB) - co-chair nc̓ic̓n Dr. Percy Lezard (PIB) pk̓am̓ Dustin Schmauder |
Contact us
Syilx Language House
Please follow us on Facebook
Immersion classes are held online. We welcome visitors and hold regular community events. Interested learners are encouraged to contact us. For learning or self-study, download n̓syilxcn̓ materials: textbook and audio at https://ilfts.org
Please follow us on Facebook
Immersion classes are held online. We welcome visitors and hold regular community events. Interested learners are encouraged to contact us. For learning or self-study, download n̓syilxcn̓ materials: textbook and audio at https://ilfts.org