A teacher works with students at the Salish School of Spokane.
The gift of two and a half acres of land to the Salish School of Spokane carries meaning far beyond new buildings. The land, once part of the grounds surrounding the convent of the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary, rests along a stretch of the Spokane River where Salish people historically sustained their community. The Salish, a major Indigenous group, have long inhabited a vast region of the Pacific Northwest, including present-day Washington, Idaho, Montana, British Columbia and parts of Oregon. Donated by Catholic Charities of Eastern Washington, the land’s return to Salish stewardship stands as a meaningful act of preservation and restorative justice.
Founded in 2009 by five Southern Interior Salish women, the Salish School exists to revitalize critically endangered Salish languages and culture. All subjects are taught in the Colville ’ Salish language, including courses in chemistry, math, music, art and history. Enrollment in the school is a family commitment, with parents also required to spend 60 hours per year studying Salish. The new campus will allow the school to expand, providing more classrooms and meeting space as well as a cultural community center. Adjacent to the new Salish School campus, Catholic Charities of Eastern Washington is building “River Family Haven,” a 72-unit supportive housing development for low-income families. At the end of the 15-year investor period, the housing development will also be donated to the Salish School of Spokane. The ultimate vision is to create a Salish village where language, culture and daily life come together.
For co-founder LaRae Wylie and school principal Chris Parkin, this project is the realization of a lifelong dream. It reflects a shared commitment by the school, Catholic Charities and the wider community to honor the past, care for the land and build a future where Salish language, culture and people can thrive. To learn more about the Salish School of Spokane and the new campus project please visit salishschoolofspokane.org.