Northwest Indigenous Language Institute - NILI

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!

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/

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

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/

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

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.

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

Summer Institute sits at the center of NILI’s work, bringing together Indigenous languages teachers to share, learn, and develop language teaching and revitalization methods, skills, and ideas.

Join us from June 21-28 on the University of Oregon Eugene campus to develop skills for building language use and supporting your students.

Visit this link to register today: https://ecomm.uoregon.edu/select/5606507/1776879037

Join us for our 2026 Tuxámshish Revitalization Learning Series (TRaiLS). Our one-week online discussion series parallels our Summer Institute program, offering daily presentations and conversations led by experts from Native communities.

Click this link to register today: https://ecomm.uoregon.edu/select/5590100/1776358618

We are excited to share our Winter 2026 Newsletter!

From an evening of storytelling with the University of Oregon’s Ichishkíin language classes to a sold-out film screening honoring International Mother Language Day, this issue highlights recent events, community stories, and ongoing projects that bring together Indigenous communities.

Click this link to view the full newsletter:https://nili.uoregon.edu/sites/default/files/2026-04/NILI%20Winter%202026%20Newsletter_0.pdf