Northwest Indigenous Language Institute - NILI

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

04/24/2026

Last week, Student Event Coordinator, Ericka, hosted Words We Carry. The bracelet-making event brought students together to explore Indigenous words, meanings, and identity.

Participants created custom bracelets using Ichishkíin language terms, including ‘Atawishamash’ (I love you), as well as names and phrases that reflect personal stories.

Thank you to everyone who attended, making the event a thoughtful and fun community experience.

04/23/2026

NILI is proud to welcome Modesta Minthorn as the keynote speaker at the Symposium on Northwest American Indigenous Languages (SNAIL) this June!

Minthorn serves as Portland State University’s first Tribal Liaison in 2023 and works to build relationships with tribal nations, communities, and peoples in the Pacific Northwest. She is an enrolled member of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation and previously served as their Director of Education.

SNAIL 2026 will be held from June 26-27 in Eugene, OR, in conjunction with the NILI Summer Institute.

Visit this link for more information: https://nili.uoregon.edu/program-offerings/snail