Yakima Ichishkíin (Sahaptin), a Native American language of the Columbia River area of Oregon and Washington, has been taught at the University of Oregon since 2008. Materials have been developed in part by Yakama Elder and UO graduate Dr. Virginia Beavert, highly respected and renowned language activist and scholar.

Yakima and related dialects are still spoken in the region today, in the Yakama Nation, the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs and the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation. The language is critically endangered, and this course adds to language preservation efforts. As a student in this class you will have the opportunity to  contribute to the expansion of vital language resource materials.

If taken for two years, the course will satisfy the BA language requirement. The course will also be of interest to students wanting to understand more about Northwest Native history and cultures, or who want an opportunity to study and understand a language radically different from English.

Questions? Contact Regan Anderson (randers6@uoregon.edu) at the Northwest Indian Language Institute.