Northwest Indigenous Language Institute - NILI

10/07/2026

We have an upcoming online course on Assessment in Indigenous Languages, which we think you might be interested in! The course will be offered online, synchronously, on Mondays from 4-5:30 PM Pacific Time, from October 19 – December 7, 2026. The course will be taught by Melanie Sandoval, Salish Language Program Manager for the Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribes, adjunct instructor at the Salish Kootenai College, and co-founder of the Nk̓ʷusm Salish Language School.

A lot of folks can be apprehensive when it comes to assessment — but we want to make it clear that assessment is more than testing. Good assessment allows for you to paint pictures about how your students are learning your language. It helps you understand what works and what doesn't in your curriculum. It gives you information that you can use to support yourself and your program with Tribal, State, and Federal governments. This course will be of use for teachers in K-12, college and university, and tribal contexts.

In addition to the 1.5 hours of class time, you can expect on average 1.5 hours of work or reading outside of class.

If you are interested, visit the course's webpage or register now!

https://nili.uoregon.edu/program-offerings/courses/assessment

https://ecomm.uoregon.edu/order_form/nili-assessment-indigenous-language-teaching-nili-nalrc-2026

09/10/2026

Northwest Native American Language Resource Center (NW-NALRC) is offering an online course this coming Fall. The course, Assessment in Indigenous Language Teaching, is taught by Melanie Sandoval of the Salish Kootenai College. The course will be offered online, synchronously, on Mondays from 4-5:30 PM Pacific Time, from October 19 – December 7, 2026.

Topics include: Benefits and value of assessment; Different strategies and methodologies for assessment; Indigenous approaches to assessment; and Navigating contextual and cultural considerations

For more information about the course, you can check out the assessment course page on our website (https://nili.uoregon.edu/program-offerings/courses/assessment).

If you are interested in taking the course, you can register via our online registration form. There is a $150 Registration Fee for this course.

There are a limited number of fee waivers for this course that will be allocated on a first come, first served basis to those who do not have the funds available to cover the course fee. There are no more than 2 available per language program, and individuals are eligible for only one waiver for any NILI & NW-NALRC offering per year. Email [email protected] if you would like to request a waiver.

In order to maintain a high quality of instruction and direct instructor-participant 1:1 time, the course will be capped. We accept registration on a first-come, first served basis – so please don’t delay registering if you are interested!

If you have any questions or need support, you can email [email protected].

07/13/2026

Exciting news for Northwest Indigenous Language work! The Salish School of Spokane prepares to break ground on new building for Native American language immersion. Read more in KXLY's Story by Natalie Keller.

SPOKANE, Wash. — The Salish School of Spokane is preparing to break ground on a new building to expand its Native American language immersion program. Community members toured the school's

06/08/2026

Meet this year’s TRaiLS talks presenters!

From June 22-24, NILI and the University of Oregon will be hosting a series of presentations and conversations led by experts in language revitalization.

Visit this link to register: https://ecomm.uoregon.edu/order_form/nili-nili-s-2026-trails-tux-mshish-revitalization-learning-series

Visit this link to learn more: https://nili.uoregon.edu/program-offerings/trails

06/05/2026

On May 27-28th, over a dozen students and staff from the UO’s Ichishkíin program and NILI went to Warm Springs K-8 Academy to volunteer at the Native Language Knowledge Bowl. Over 160 students ranging from ages 6 to 13 competed in groups of five across three languages: Ichishkíin (Sahaptin), Numu (Northern Paiute), and Kiksht (Upper Chinook).

Volunteers included Sapsikw'ałáma Regan Anderson and Brittany Parham, NILI associate director Joana Jansen, 2 NILI student workers, and 10 Ichishkíin students from all three years of classes. Our volunteers took on various roles including judging, administering questions, recording time, and keeping score.

We thank the staff and students of Warm Springs K-8 Academy for allowing us to participate in this event, and we hope to be back in future years!

05/28/2026

NILI’s Summer Institute is less than a month away, and spots for this program have been filled. To join the waitlist, please email [email protected]. We hope to see you there!

05/27/2026

Interested in learning more about the Ichishkiín language classes? Swipe to hear from 1st and 2nd year students enrolled in the program.

The Ichishkiín language courses offer students the opportunity to learn about a critically endangered language and support revitalization efforts. The program highlights the importance of preserving culture, building community, and strengthening connections for future generations.

Enroll in ICH 101 today for Fall 2026 through the registration menu in Duckweb.

Email us at [email protected], or visit this website for more information: https://catalog.uoregon.edu/courses/crs-ich/

05/20/2026

We have lots of exciting things planned for this summer’s Symposium on Northwest American Indigenous Languages! This schedule features guest speakers, panel presentations, and more.

The conference will be held on the University of Oregon campus on Friday, June 26, from 3:30-6:15 p.m., and Saturday, June 27, from 9:30 am-6 pm in Mackenzie Hall 240A.

To register, visit this link: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/r/Y01RwYVHjk

To learn more, email us at [email protected] or visit this link: https://nili.uoregon.edu/program-offerings/snail

05/20/2026

The Ichiskiín language program offers students the opportunity to learn a critically endangered language and support revitalization efforts.

Swipe to hear from 1st, 2nd, and 3rd year students enrolled in the Ichiskiín language courses, and learn about their experiences with the program.

Enroll in ICH 101 today for Fall 2026 through the registration menu in Duckweb.

Email us at [email protected], or visit this website for more information: https://catalog.uoregon.edu/courses/crs-ich/

05/12/2026

Don’t miss the annual Symposium on Northwest American Indigenous Languages this summer!

The conference will be held on the University of Oregon campus on Friday, June 26, from 3:30-6:15 p.m., and Saturday, June 27, from 9:30 am-6 pm in Mackenzie Hall 240A.

SNAIL is an event hosted by NILI. This conference aims to provide community members with a space to share knowledge, foster collaboration, and celebrate the beauty and diversity of languages within the Pacific Northwest.

To register, visit this link: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/r/Y01RwYVHjk

To learn more, visit this link: https://nili.uoregon.edu/program-offerings/snail