World Caribou Day - 6.6.24
Mountain caribou (Rangifer tarandus) occupied the Selkirk Mountains for as long as seventy-five thousand years, it’s only been half a decade since the last of the Southern Selkirk Mountain herd…
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Our Language
Our traditions and our language are what make the Kalispel people who we are today. The language ties us to the land, our relations, and our past.
At the beginning of the millennium, with only a handful of Tribal elders who could speak fluent Salish, we were in danger of losing our native language. In response, we have developed the Kalispel Language Program in an effort to reclaim and preserve our Salish Language, as well as create a new generation of native language speakers.
Our Language
Over the last several years, we have continued to strengthen and expand the program, and we are beginning to see our efforts pay off. Before, Salish was only spoken at cultural events, such as funerals, wakes, memorials, and gatherings, and it was only spoken by our elders. Now, you can hear it everywhere throughout the community. Through our Language efforts, a new generation of Salish speakers has given life to a part of our culture that was once in danger of extinction. We are doing our best to speak our language and teach every day.
Throughout this path, we have made many friends and partners to help us along the way. With the help from Chris Parkin and the Salish School of Spokane, we have created a 3-level language acquisition path that is designed to take a person from “no-salish” to “pretty darn good” in 18 months. We are currently working on a new “Level 4” as we speak. We also have a few language Apps available to supplement classroom instruction. Please visit your APPstore or PLAYstore to check them out.
Our Language Staff
| Name | Position | Email Address | Phone Number |
| JR Bluff | Language Director | jrbluff@kalispeltribe.com | (509) 447-7294 |
| Jessie Isadore | Asst. Director | jisadore@kalispeltribe.com | (509) 447-728 |
| Stan Bluff | Salish Language Advisor | sbluff@kalispeltribe.com | (509) 447-720 |
| Johnny Arlee | Salish Language Advisor | johnnyarlee@gmail.com | (509) 447-7280 |
| Vickie Leach | K-1 Immersion School Teacher | vleach@kalispeltribe.com | (509) 447-747 |
| Mia Scott | Immersion School Teacher | mscott@kalispeltribe.com | (509) 447-7286 |
| Todd Ellingburg | Immersion School Administrator/Teacher | tellingburg@kalispeltribe.com | (509) 447-7461 |
| Alisha Athos | K-1 Immersion School Teacher | aathos@kalispeltribe.com | (509) 447-7445 |
| Paul Renaud | JH/HS Immersion School Teacher | prenaud@kalispeltribe.com | (509) 447-7121 |
| Dave Browneagle | JH/HS Immersion Language Teacher | dbrowneagle3@kalispeltribe.com | (509) 447-7487 |
| Jamie Samuels | JH/HS Immersion School Teacher | jsamuels@kalispeltribe.com | (509) 447-7462 |
| Melinda McCormick | Curriculum Expert | mmccormick@kalispeltribe.com | (509) 447-7134 |
| Dakota Littlecrow | Immersion School Teacher | dlittlecrow@kalispeltribe.com |
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sčiyálmn spq̓niʔs, known as "The Buttercup Month," The Buttercup was said to be the first flower that bloomed in the Spring. A sign to the people, that soon the…
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“K̓ʷsixʷ Spq̓niʔs” (The Geese’s Month), known as the spring month. This is the time that the geese are migrating back north from their vacation down south. History/Information on what…
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Recognizing the Women in our Public Safety Department
In honor of Women’s History Month, we pause to shine a spotlight on the remarkable women within our Kalispel Tribal Public Safety team. These unsung heroes stand at the…
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Why is February called čqʷosqn spq̓niʔs (Coldest Month) ?
The end of “Skʷssús Spq̓niʔs” (January) was a cold and bad month with snow. At the beginning of “Čqʷosqn Spq̓niʔs”, Mothers would tell their children to go outside and…
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January is Trafficking Awareness Month
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Hunting & Fishing on Kalispel Tribal Property
It has come to the Kalispel Tribe of Indians attention that there has been some confusion regarding hunting and fishing on the Tribe’s lands and issues regarding poaching and…
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Give Survivors Voices: Ribbons Around The Reservation
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Snow Safety for Kids: 5 Things to Know
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The Coldest Month & Curly-Hair Month
During this time, our people, who would have been scattered across the land in various locations, would gather together to form winter camps to help each other survive. These…
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Kalispel Language Survival School
Our traditions and our language are what make the Kalispel people who we are today. The language ties us to the land, our relations, and our past.
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Tribal Member Spotlight: Paul Renaud
We lived in Spokane for about 5-6 years and our boys were getting to that age where they were able to open doors, open the fence outside and start walking…
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Better Employment Starts Today
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Camas Early Learning Center
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K9 Unit Visits Camas Center
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Caribou Recovery Project
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New year’s resolutions often include singular goals like losing weight, stopping smoking, or starting an exercise routine. But did you know that 80% of new year’s resolutions fail just a…
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Recap of Domestic Violence Awareness Month at Cusick School District
During the month of October, the Kalispel Tribe Victim Assistance Services Program and the Cusick School District worked together in bringing awareness of domestic violence to Cusick School District students…
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Australian Students Visit the Kalispel Reservation
A group of travelers from Australia visited the Kalispel Reservation on November 1 as part of the USA/Aboriginal Cultural Exchange Study Tour. The program students, who are from different…
Read ArticleJune is Elder Abuse Awareness Month
Not restricted to physical abuse, elders are likely targets of financial fraud and identity theft. They are attractive targets to the perpetrators because elders often have disabilities that make them…
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Public Safety Awareness Day
The Kalispel Tribe hosted a Public Safety Awareness Day Wednesday, May 31 at the Powwow Grounds and Camas Center. Students from Cusick, Selkirk, House of the Lord, and Deer Park…
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