Indigenous Language Activism

INSTRUCTOR INFO

Nariyo Kono

COURSE CRN

Winter 2026
- 43608

COURSE DESCRIPTION

This capstone course explores how historical and societal factors impact language diversity. Students will gain practical experience by collaborating directly with ongoing language sustainability initiatives, focusing on endangered language communities in the Northwest. We'll partner with tribal language programs, specifically the Warm Springs Tribal Language Program. Our class will work alongside them, developing "on-the-ground" skills that complement your class studies. A key part of this course involves creating language and/or teaching materials to support these programs and their efforts to offer language classes in their communities. All class instruction will be exclusively online, and students create small groups and meet through google meet or zoom (meeting times are decided by each group) towards final group projects. If you're interested in Indigenous and/or language activism, you're welcome to join this capstone, regardless of your prior experience with Indigenous languages or history. We especially encourage students who want to support our community partners efforts for curriculum and teaching activities. A major goal of this capstone is to foster a healthy online community and active group work, all conducted remotely. If you have any question or request a class syllabus, please send it to Nariyo Kono (nariyo@pdx.edu) by email.