Plenary Talks
Thursday, May 18, 2023
Raising First Language Speakers of Nsélišcn ‘Salish language’ by Aspen Decker
This talk explores language revitalization efforts and experiences of an Nsélišcn ‘Salish language’ speaker and her first language Salish speaking children. This talk explores language socialization and identity that provide insight around speaking only the heritage language to children in the home. The talk features the progress of her L1 children’s language acquisition of Nsélišcn. She also highlights how identity and connection to the land can transform language revitalization materials and can serve present and future goals of Indigenous language teachers and learners
Aspen Decker is an enrolled member of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes (T:atay̓ áqn, Qlis: p̓é & Sqlsé) and a speaker of her tribal language, Nsélišcn ‘Salish language’. She graduated with a master’s degree in linguistics from the University of Montana in 2021. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Tribal Historic Preservation from Salish Kootenai College in 2018. She has a Montana Class 7 Native American Language and Culture Educator License and has taught Salish for 10 years. Her passion for Salish language began as a child, learning from her elders, primarily, Patlik Pierre. Who taught her about the importance of perpetuating Salish language and culture. Raising her children in the language as first language Salish speakers has been one of the ways that she honors their teachings. Aspen and her husband Cameron are Co-owners of their business Xʷlxʷilt ‘alive and well’ that is a company designed to create and deliver authentic Indigenous curriculum instruction to foster awareness, inclusion, and diversity in education.
Friday, May 19, 2023
Salish Language Educator Development (SLED) by Melanie Sandoval
Salish Kootenai College Division of Education and Early Childhood / Early P-3 Programs are making a leap toward the provision of a robust, rigorous, and uniquely Integrative Indigenous Early Childhood Teacher Preparation Program. Additionally, the new Culture and Language Studies (CALS) Department within the Native American Studies Division will be launched this academic year, which crosses over into our Division of Education through the collaborative bachelor’s degree in Native Language Teacher Education, with the Salish Language Educator Development (SLED) option. Together, DOE and CALS aim to launch an Early Childhood Education focused cohort of the Salish Language Educator Development program this fall. The four-year bachelor’s degree curriculum the SLED-ECED Cohort will undertake blends and adapts best practices including place-based and culturally revitalizing adaptations of Montessori and High Scope experiential early childhood education approaches, with pervasive integration of Indigenous STEM and appropriate, accurate, and authentic language and cultural teachings.
Melanie Sandoval (Salish and Navajo) is currently the Salish language instructor for Salish Kootenai College's Salish Language Educator Development Program. At the age of twelve, Melanie's mother brought her to her first Salish language class and at that time decided to pursue learning and teaching Salish. She graduated from SKC and the University of Montana. She has taught Salish language in many capacities including public school, Nk̓ʷusm Salish Language School, Early Childhood Services, and adult classes. Salish language is her lifelong passion and she will continue to learn and teach as long as possible.
Friday, May 19, 2023
Native American Dance and Ideology by Dominic Meyers
Dominic Meyers (Having a sundance whistle fights well known), Chippewa Crow, Billings, MT
Tan see (Hello) I am a member of the Chippewa Cree Tribe from my father, and my mother is Crow of the Greasy Mouth clan! I carry a grass dance whistle and I am a Chippewa Cree grass dancer. My heritage is based in the Ojibwe or Chippewa worldview, passed down to us from the traditional elders and from the mother land in the Minnesota Rice Lakes area. The 7 Traditional teachings (values) are our worldview. The traditional elders at Rocky Boy reservation, mainly Duncan Standing Rock Sr, have been very good to me to help me know where I come from and my identity. The Anthropology Department at University of Montana and Professor Greg Campbell have taught me the Academic part of understanding Identity and cultural heritage in the Doctoral program in Cultural Heritage where I am a current candidate.
Thank You (miigwetch)
