Language learning as a gift and responsibility

I’m adding this virtual space to my list of things to do because I hope it encourages others to start their language journey and serves as a space for me to “story” my vision of my Təmxʷúlaʔxʷ School and Lab into being. My story, and I hope yours, doesn’t start with a story of lack and decay (though it took me a long time to realize that). After all, I had stories (in English) about who my family is and who our people are, and I was raised doing things like digging roots, hunting, and fishing. Though the opportunities were few and far between, as a Salish person, I took Yakama language classes with my Yakama family and friends when I could. Moving away from home and our Lands for my Ph.D. made this more difficult.

Then, when taking my first job in Toronto, ON, Canada, my children started to learn Anishinaabemowin at their school. Their learning helped us to have conversations about the time of year, cultural practices and responsibilities, our songs, and who they were as Indigenous children. I enjoyed supporting the language teacher and doing my part to ensure after-school activities were available for families to join their children in learning Anishinaabemowin. Though thousands of miles from home, the urban Toronto Indigenous community cared for us, and the little bit of language we received felt like a gift and responsibility. From these experiences, a newly found determination emerged that turned me back toward my own language (Interior Salish), and I began looking for opportunities to learn online.

I found an online language house with an opening; I applied and was accepted. Seventeen of us new language students with two student teachers gathered 4 days a week online for 3 hours a day for immersive learning. We accomplished over 500 hours of study. My next post will share a little bit about what that was like.