Language Program

Welcome to our Lushootseed language resources. Here you will find information that will help you learn more about the language traditionally spoken by the Snoqualmie Indian Tribe.

Listen to a greeting in Lushootseed:

The Snoqualmie People spoke the Southern dialect (txʷəlšucid) of the Lushootseed language used by many regional tribes who often spoke both the Southern and Northern dialects because of extensive travel in the Unites States and Canada. This language is now on the ‘endangered’ list with few remaining fluent speakers.

The Snoqualmie Tribe Language Department strives to recover and educate the Tribal Community using the Lushootseed language along with relearning the traditional lifeways of the Snoqualmie People. We incorporate our language programs into the Canoe Family, Carving and Natural Resources programs where participants can learn the language connected to their activities.

We encourage you to incorporate the language into your daily lives. Staff works with you to create materials and programs to assist with creating ‘language nests’ in the home and work using online programs, face-to-face tutoring, or home visits in an effort to preserve this language.

Contact:
Angela Wymer | angela@snoqualmietribe.us | 206.854.9837

Resources & Projects

Typing in Lushootseed

The following are external links to resources to help you find Lushootseed fonts and keyboard configurations that will let you type in Lushootseed on your computer.

 

Lushootseed for Canoe Journey

The Puyallup Tribe of Indians’ Puyallup Tribal Language Program created a digital resource of Twulshootseed (txʷəlšucid) phrases and protocol to use and share during the 2018 Canoe Journey Paddle to Puyallup: Honoring Our Medicine. Please click on the link below to be taken to the Puyallup Tribal Language Program website.

Puyallup Tribal Language Program Culture Page

Traditional Story Illustration Collaboration

Follow the link below to learn more about the Culture Department’s Traditional Story Illustration Collaboration Project:

Traditional Story Illustration Collaboration Project Page

Origin of Seasons Storybook – PDF

Told by Jerry Kanim, August 1955
Illustrations by Colleen Barker, 2020
Origin of Seasons Lushootseed Audio for Bear, Rabbit & Full Story

Animal Names in Lushootseed

Follow the links below to review animals names in Lushtooseed with the corresponding Lushootseed Flashcards:

Animal Names in Lushootseed – Audio Page

Animal Names in Lushootseed – PDF

Food Names in Lushootseed

Follow the links below to review food names in Lushtooseed with the corresponding Lushootseed Flashcards:

Food Names in Lushootseed – Audio Web Page

Food Names in Lushootseed – PDF

Plant Names in Lushootseed

Follow the links below to review plant names in Lushtooseed with the corresponding Lushootseed Vocabulary List:

Plant Names in Lushootseed – Audio Web Page

Plant Names in Lushootseed – PDF

School Vocabulary in Lushootseed

Follow the links below to review school vocabulary in Lushtooseed with the corresponding Lushootseed Flashcards:

School Vocabulary in Lushootseed – Audio Web Page

School Vocabulary in Lushootseed – PDF

Winter Holiday Vocabulary in Lushootseed

Follow the links below to review winter holiday vocabulary in Lushootseed with the corresponding Lushootseed Flashcards:

Winter Holiday Vocabulary in Lushootseed – Audio Web Page

Winter Holiday Vocabulary in Lushootseed – PDF

Months of the Year in Lushootseed

These print resources are available to follow along with the “Months of the Year in Lushootseed” video found on the Language page of the Culture Department Website.

This video was created to be paired with the 2021-2022 Tribal Calendar artwork, which is why the calendar photos are featured in the video. Historical photos for the months of January-June are provided by the Snoqualmie Valley Museum.

Months of the Year in Lushootseed Photo PDF

Months of the Year in Lushootseed PDF

Happy Mother's Day and Related Terms in Lushootseed

Follow the link below to learn how to say “Happy Mother’s Day” and related words:

Lushootseed for Mother’s Day

Happy Veterans Day and other phrases in Lushootseed

Follow the link below to learn how to say “Happy Veterans Day” and related phrases:

Lushootseed for Veterans Day

Upcoming Gatherings

There are no upcoming events.

“Months of the Year in Lushootseed” Video

Birthday Greeting in Lushoosteed

Listen to Birthday Greetings in Lushootseed:

“Happy Birthday to you!”

This information was relayed to Zalmai Zahir from our late
Chief Earnest (šidut) Barr.

Good News in Lushootseed

Listen to Greeting in Lushootseed:

“Good News!”

Christmas Greeting in Lushoosteed

Listen to Christmas Greetings in Lushootseed:

“Good sacred time!”