Our special collection for the month of November will be for the Salish School of Spokane. The Salish School of Spokane is a grassroots, nonprofit organization working to preserve and revitalize Southern Interior Salish languages, the first languages of the Spokane Region, as all Salish languages are critically endangered.

The school was founded and operated by Salish people in the Spokane Metro area in response to the urgent need to reverse the loss of their languages. Under the leadership of co-founder and Executive Director LaRae Wiley, the school has been empowering adults to learn Salish so that they can teach it to their children and pass it on to the next generations. The return to their languages has also led to a resurgence of traditional cultural practices, such as gathering food and medicine, and winter dancing.

SSOS’s successful model has been adopted by tribes and nonprofits across the Pacific Northwest and beyond. As the only Native-run educational institution in Spokane, it is uniquely positioned to address the need for high quality, culture-based education for Native children. Through the school’s immersion programs, it aim is to break the cycles of poverty, health disparities, and educational inequities that disproportionately affect Native American communities.

The Salish School of Spokane is in the midst of a $12.7 million capital campaign to build a new school and cultural center by the Spokane River. For generations, traditional Salish villages were found along rivers throughout the regions. The new campus will allow the school to dramatically expand its school and community programs, including expanded classroom spaces and a cultural and recreation center on land near the Spokane River gifted by Catholic Charities. The site is located near the Spokane Falls Community College close to our church. This local organization cannot do this important work without the support of the Spokane community.

To learn more about their work, please check out their website.

If this ministry speaks to you, please give generously.

If you’d like to contribute to this special collection, you may do so when it is announced during services on the third Sunday of the month, by mailing a check to the church (4340 West Whistalks Way, Spokane, WA 99224) or by donating online at the church website. Be sure to note in the memo section that your contribution is for the special collection.

Take me to the online donation page.

Thanks again for your kindness and generosity!