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.
- LanguageGeek is a source for installing keyboards for various languages, including Lushootseed: http://www.languagegeek.com/index.html
- A YouTube video from the Puyallup Tribe on how to install keyboard configurations on your Mac computer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nPTG9zVFoug
- A YouTube video from the Puyallup Tribe on how to install keyboard configurations on your Windows computer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=59y21kCm_TA
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.
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:
Food Names in Lushootseed
Follow the links below to review food names in Lushtooseed with the corresponding Lushootseed Flashcards:
Plant Names in Lushootseed
Follow the links below to review plant names in Lushtooseed with the corresponding Lushootseed Vocabulary List:
School Vocabulary in Lushootseed
Follow the links below to review school vocabulary in Lushtooseed with the corresponding Lushootseed Flashcards:
Winter Holiday Vocabulary in Lushootseed
Follow the links below to review winter holiday vocabulary in Lushootseed with the corresponding Lushootseed Flashcards:
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.
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:
Happy Veterans Day and other phrases in Lushootseed
Follow the link below to learn how to say “Happy Veterans Day” and related phrases:
“Months of the Year in Lushootseed” Video
