Northwest Indian Language Institute marks 25-year milestone with plans for growth, thanks to new grant

Founded in 1997, the Northwest Indian Language Institute (NILI) at the University of Oregon recently celebrated its 25th anniversary this past June. Now, thanks to a recent grant from The Roundhouse Foundation, NILI will be launching an initiative to analyze and re-envision needs for growing and expanding in the years ahead.

“Over the years, NILI has grown to include a number of outreach projects supporting Tribal language efforts, said NILI director Robert Elliot. “I am excited to embark on this new phase of expansion and growth.”

NILI has just concluded its Summer Institute series for language revitalization practitioners, comprised this year of two online classes and a learning series over the last two weeks of June, with four more online courses scheduled this summer. June classes covered Teaching Language Online and Introduction to Assessment.

Said one participant of the Summer Institute assessment course “This course was beneficial to me because I've gained new understanding and knowledge on how to create effective assessments and where I can go for assistance with making one. I can and will also share what I've learned with the teachers of our program that did not attend.”

One highlight from the summer was the Tuxámshish Revitalization Learning Series, better known as TRaiLS.

Taking place over the course of nine days, the Tuxámshish Revitalization Learning Series honored Yakama Nation Elder, language expert, colleague, and UO faculty member Tuxámshish, Dr. Virginia Beavert.

Participants attended daily presentations and conversations led by experts from Native communities. The theme for 2022 was “The Heart and Soul of Language Work.”

In the fall, with the support of the Roundhouse Foundation, NILI will embark on a needs assessment process, exploring how language preservation needs have shifted among Tribal Nations and language revitalization practitioners since the founding of the organization in 1997, and sharing findings with tribal partners. The needs assessment will occur over the next 15 months, during which NILI leadership will initiate conversations with language leaders from the nine federally recognized Tribes of Oregon, Tribal partners throughout the Pacific Northwest, and existing partners and founding members.

“Supporting Tribal Nations is a core part of our mission at The Roundhouse Foundation, and language preservation is essential to supporting the heritage and culture of Indigenous cultures and Tribal communities,” said Erin Borla, executive director and trustee for The Roundhouse Foundation. “NILI serves a critical role in this arena and, as they move into the next phase of their organization, we are happy to support their efforts to authentically connect with the Tribal communities they serve so they may deeply understand how to enhance their program.”