Salish School of Spokane (SSOS) is a grass-roots organization governed and led by Native American people who want to reconnect with our traditional Salish language and culture. SSOS is not just a “school”. We are seeking justice and striving to strengthen our community using a schooling model. Just as the agents of genocide used residential boarding schools to break cultural and inter-generational connections among Salish people, we are using schooling, adult education and ceremony to rebuild those connections and ensure a better future for ourselves.
We operate a preschool and childcare center; private K-8 school; Salish Language Educator Development program; evening Salish language classes; language classes and enrichment programming for Native youth in grades 9-12; a Salish curriculum development program focusing on language acquisition, literacy, math and science materials, and; a program of technical support and training for other endangered language communities.