tulalip Archives - 91.3 KBCS

Learning Lushootseed in an Environment of Intergenerational Trauma (aired August 2023)

91.3 KBCS · 91.3KBCS 20230808 Learning Lushootseed In A Household With Intergenerational Trauma

According to the CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation), indigenous language learning is increasing in Canada. Tribes in our region have established multiple language programs to teach Lushootseed, the language of the Coast Salish in the Greater Seattle Area, north to Skagit River Valley, and Whidbey Island, and south to Olympia and Shelton. At the Tulalip Tribe, Lushootseed Department Manager, Michele Balagot describes her experience learning Lushootseed in a household where her loved ones had experienced the American Indian residential schools.

Producers: Yuko Kodama and Lucy Braginski

Photo: Tulalip tribe

Teaching Lushootseed to Toddlers

91.3 KBCS · 91.3KBCS 20221118 Jazmyne Diaz Lushootseed Class For Toddlers

Lushootseed is the language spoken by Coast Salish tribes in the greater Seattle area and north to Skagit River Valley near Bellingham and Whidbey Island, and south to Olympia and Shelton. In 1819, Congress passed the Civilization Fund Act to assimilate indigenous youth to western culture. The policy authorized forcible separation of indigenous children from their families to be sent to boarding schools far away, where they were to be stripped of their language, culture and religious practices. It wasn’t until the 1970’s that this practice was outlawed. This caused a severe disruption in likelihood for traditional practices and lifestyles to continue.

Today, members of these communities are reawakening their native tongue through education to everyone from 6 month olds, elementary and high school students and adults.

Jasmyne Diaz is an enrolled Tulalip member and shares a peek into her work of teaching Lushootseed language as a Teacher Assistant to six-month to two-year old children in Tulalip, Washington through the Tulalip Lushootseed Language Program

Producers: Laura Florez and Yuko Kodama

Incorporating Lushootseed Language Into Life

91.3 KBCS · 91.3KBCS 20221111 Michelle Myles Incorporating Lushootseed Into Life

Michelle Myles is Snohomish from Tulalip, and is a Lushootseed Language Teacher at Tulalip Heritage High School in Tulalip, WA through the Tulalip Lushootseed Program. Myles describes how she talks with students about incorporating Lushootseed (a language spoken by a number of Coast Salish tribes in this region) into life today.

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Reawakening Lushootseed Language: Language Warriors

91.3 KBCS · 91.3KBCS 20221104 Lois Landgrebe Lushootseed Language Warriors

Lushootseed is the language spoken by Coast Salish tribes in the greater Seattle region. In 1819, Congress passed the Civilization Fund Act to assimilate indigenous youth to western culture. The policy authorized forcible separation of indigenous children from their families to be sent to boarding schools, where they were to be stripped of their language, culture and religious practices. It wasn’t until the 1970’s that this practice was outlawed. Today, members of these communities are reawakening their native language through educational programs.

KBCS’s Laura Florez spoke with Lois Landgrebe, of Snohomish, Stillaguamish, Duwamish and Nez Perce descendants, and a Lushootseed educator at Quil Ceda Tulalip elementary school in Tulalip, Washington through the Tulalip Lushootseed Program. Landgrebe describes what it means to be a language warrior.

Producers: Laura Florez, Yukiko Arichi and Yuko Kodama

Lois with drum