Language Nest Spring Update

Our Spring Littles Language classes wrapped up, and we are so inspired by all of the progress our young learners have made across miluk, hanis and sha’yuushtɬ’a uɬ quuiich! We are watching the littles build confidence in speaking their language, listening to stories about how they are singing songs and carrying words forward into their homes, and connecting with their culture through fun, relevant, and play-based learning.

The Language Nest Program is thriving because of the capacity of our Language Nest Facilitators coming on board helping to build language materials, seeing our Elders Madeline Knowlton (miluk), Tammy Evarts (miluk), iila Kirk (hanis), and Cynthia Hovind (siuslaw) present and speaking language and bringing their wisdom and heart into the learning space, while youth facilitators present and model language with enthusiasm and connection. The Language Nest program is structures to bridge generations and help littles ones see themselves as part pf a living language community. – Enna Helms, miluk, hanis, wa’as Language Teacher

We welcome more Elders and young people to get involved!

miluk sha’la’la (Baby Seagulls) update: sha’la’la miluk Little’s Language class went well this spring term. We covered colors, numbers, family, bugs, and more. Isa Helms, miluk language nest youth facilitator, and Madeline Knowlton, elder, joined our classroom space and brought sport and engagement for our littles. It was so positive to see our littles speaking the language in their homes. – Ashley Vandevort, miluk Language Nest Facilitator

hanis pu’uuk’ (Fawns) update: Language Nest finished Spring 2025 classes on June 14^th! hanis had a pretty successful term. We played games, sang songs, colored, and learned basic vocabulary around themes like colors, numbers, and bugs! We had a small class size of 1-3 students each week, and I’d love to have more in the Fall! – Naomi Biesanz, hanis Language Nest Facilitator

wa’as nikanishk’an (Baby Turtles) update: This June we finished up our last class for the Spring Little’s Language Classes and I believe that our nikanishk’an classes this Spring went very smoothly. The kids were picking up and remembering things from the previous weeks, which was amazing and exactly what we were hoping to see! I am excited to watch the kids grow further in their language development in not only sha’yuushtɬ’a uɬ quuiich, but in all three of our languages.

Language is a huge part of our culture, and I am so glad to be a part of making sure it continues to be passed on. That being said, I encourage all parents to look into classes for your little’s this fall to come and learn your respective language, while also growing with your community. I hope to see you there! – Kris Wing, wa’as Language Nest Facilitator

Language Nest Resources: Our language learning resources are growing, and more are in the works. To date, please check out the following:

Google Classroom

The Language Nest Program posts weekly during our Littles Program. To access, please send us your Gmail address and we can set you up to access language materials and resources.

Book Creator – digital books

1) Download Book Creator App 2) Send us your email account to be added to the library

YouTube Launch

The Tribe has officially launched a YouTube channel for each of the three languages. To access, type in the YouTube URL the following:

@miluk-language  @hanis-language        @waas-language

YouTube Watch Party

Join us in premier videos of our children books! See below the following times of each video: July 7^th (miluk) July 8^th (hanis) and July 9^th (wa’as)

Date: July 7th, Premier Time:	miluk	Direct Link to video
2:00 p.m. (pst)	miluk tɬiis kߴellis – miluk Sound Chart – miluk	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JGbL21fQyP4
2:10 p.m. (pst)	tɬə ɬtߴayau dai – The Hello Book – miluk	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6iaZ8dCE6As
2:15 p.m. (pst)	tahii kiyawas – Garden Bugs – miluk	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vtioqnkK3GY
2:20 p.m. (pst)	tɬəx̣ sel tɬə suuweɬije – From Head to Toes – miluk	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9bvIko40NqE
2:30 p.m. (pst)	miluk tɬiis hiime kߴellis – miluk Littles Sound Chart	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EuGnc5a-Z5g

Date: July 8th, Premier Time:	hanis	Direct Link to video
2:00 p.m. (pst)	hanis chʼeiɬ tɬʼiiʼiis (hanis sound chart adult)	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rkRCXdAyASo
2:10 p.m. (pst)	lə schaiyuu dai (hanis hello book)	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1m-mUAkOgqU
2:15 p.m. (pst)	tɬxanii kiiyawa (hanis garden bugs)	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1f1e_AWLb3w
2:20 p.m. (pst)	hanis From Head to Toes	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E2jy-VEQzfs
2:30 p.m. (pst)	hanis ch’eiɬ tɬ’ii’iis (hanis littles sound chart)	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FVSt60aixnM

Date: July 9th, Premier Time:	wa’as	Direct Link to video
2:00 p.m. (pst)	sha’yuushtɬ’a uɬ quuiich wa’asishk’in (wa’as Sound Chart-Classroom)	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q7zgYS5BOSs
2:10 p.m. (pst)	wa’as – niishanax ants kwətsa (Hello Book)	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVAowASB-yk
2:15 p.m. (pst)	wa’as – pa’naq t’əmuuxwishk’in (Garden Bugs)	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-ypc2sbG38
2:20 p.m. (pst)	wa’as – qamlisa(s)/xwakaya(q) ants takwach (Head to Toes)	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-sqoZmV7io
2:30 p.m. (pst)	wa’as-nikanishk’an wa’asishk’in (Little’s Sound Chart)	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MHFv604-Yl0

Available NOW	multilingual	Direct Link to Video
Available NOW	ASL Language Nest Talking Hands Multilingual	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CGjZuTe-p8c&t=3s

Questions? Want to sign up for language classes or learn more? Contact languag@ctclusi.org