Salish Curriculum
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.
CUSICK JUNIOR HIGH AND HIGH SCHOOL
This upcoming school year we are teaching Kalispel I and Kalispel Stories I curriculum to the JH/HS students at Cusick. All JH/HS students receive 5 hours of language instruction per week. Vickie Leach and Tina Butler are the lead teachers. This year we will also be having our Kalispel Ambassadors Program. This is where we travel to the local HS’s and perform our traditional stories in the language. This is our way of showing other schools that “you can learn your language and it is a lot of fun”. The kids enjoy it and so do the teachers.
DAYTIME ADULT CLASS
In October, we will be starting our daytime adult class at the language office in Cusick. This class is designed for community members and employees who have prior approval from their supervisors. It will meet Monday-Thursday from 8-9 am. If you are interested in taking the class please contact JR Bluff or Jessie Isadore. If you work for the Kalispel Tribe, you will need approval from your immediate supervisor. This class will meet for about 9 months and will cover our Kalispel I and Kalispel Stories I. Vickie Leach and Tina Butler will be the Instructors.
KALISPEL LANGUAGE IMMERSION SCHOOL
(SNYOYOʔSPUʔÚSM)
The K-3 Immersion School is in full swing. The school opened August 31. We currently have 22 kids registered in the school. These students receive 4 1/2 hrs of Immersion Instruction in Science, Math, and Reading. Todd Ellingburg, Jessie Isadore, Nalene Andrews, Felisha Pichette, and Alisha Athos are the instructors. We are all very excited about the Immersion School and the opportunity to teach our children language. Please feel free to stop by and check them out.
KALISPEL LANGUAGE INTENSIVE
We plan on starting our fourth Kalispel Language Intensive at the Language Office located on the Kalispel rez. Currently, we have six students committed to take the class. Over the course of 2 years, these students will learn all 6 levels of the Kalispel Language Curriculum. Their daily schedule will entail 5 hrs of language instruction, 1 hr of Immersion Sessions from our Elders, and several hrs of homework. JR Bluff and Jessie Isadore will be teaching the class.
Language Books
Beginning Kalispel I Curriculum
Listed below are the first 45 lessons from our Kalispel I curriculum. These lessons were recently updated 10-17. Please click on the links below to access the specific lessons for the Kalispel I lessons. If you want to use the SalishTutor to learn the words you can click here and you will be re-directed to the language software page.
Kalispel Song Books
Below are PDFs for our Beginning Kalispel Songbook and our Christmas Songbook. The Beginning Songbook is taught in conjunction with the Kalispel I curriculum. The Christmas Songbook is something we put together to get everyone in the Christmas Spirit. Enjoy! Please download Adobe Reader to view and print the lessons.
Listening Programs
Kalispel I Listening Program
Listed on this page is the Kalispel Listening program designed for the Kalispel I Curriculum. This program is designed to help the new language learner to comprehend and learn the Kalispel I materials.
Once you have the listening program document printed out, simply click on the mp3 audio link to hear the lesson activity. Good luck.
LISTENING PROGRAM DOCUMENTS
MP3 AUDIO FILES FOR LISTENING PROGRAM
- Lesson 01
- Lesson 02
- Lesson 03
- Lesson 04
- Lesson 05
- Lesson 06
- Lesson 07
- Lesson 08
- Lesson 09
- Lesson 10
- Lesson 11
- Lesson 12
- Lesson 13
- Lesson 14
- Lesson 15
- Lesson 16
- Lesson 17
- Lesson 18
- Lesson 19
- Lesson 20
- Lesson 21
- Lesson 22
- Lesson 23
- Lesson 24
- Lesson 25
- Lesson 26
- Lesson 27
- Lesson 28
- Lesson 29
- Lesson 30
- Lesson 31
- Lesson 32
- Lesson 33
- Lesson 34
- Lesson 35
- Lesson 36
- Lesson 37
- Lesson 38
- Lesson 39
- Lesson 40
- Lesson 41
- Lesson 42
- Lesson 43
- Lesson 44
- Lesson 45
Kalispel Workbooks
Kalispel Story I Student Workbooks
Here are the Student Workbooks for the 15 stories in the Kalispel Story I Curriculum. These were recently updated 10/17. We do our best to update these every year.
If you want to use the StoryTeller program to help learn the stories click here and you will be re-directed to the language software page. Good Luck.
Student Workbooks documents
- 01 Skunk Chipmunk Student Workbook Rev 10 17
- 02 Rabbit Pretty Girl Student Workbook Rev 10 17
- 03 Coyote And Buffalo 1 Student Workbook Rev 10 17
- 04 Coyote And Buffalo 2 Student Workbook Rev 10 17
- 05 No Salmon In The Po River Student Workbook Rev 10 17
- 06 Beaver And Porcupine Student Workbook Rev 10 17
- 07 Mosquito 1 Student Workbook Rev 10 17
- 08 Mosquito 2 Student Workbook Rev 10 17
- 09 Daddy Longlegs Student Workbook Rev 10 17
- 10 Frogs In Kalispel Land Student Workbook Rev 10 17
- 11 Frog And Snake Student Workbook Rev 10 17
- 12 Two Brothers Eagles Student Workbook Rev 10 17
- 13 Rabbit Turtle Racing Student Workbook Rev 10 17
- 14 Coyote And Buck Student Workbook Rev 10 17
- 15 Weasel And Marten Student Workbook Rev 10 17