About NALRC-NW

NALRC grant was awarded to University of Oregon-Northwest Indian Language Institute. Through the Institute the NALRC project actively supports and strengthens tribal language programs. The purposes of the NALRC program are to (1) support schools that use Native American and Alaska Native languages as the primary language of instruction; (2) maintain, protect, and promote the rights and freedom of Native Americans and Alaska Natives to use, practice, maintain, and revitalize their languages, as envisioned in the Native American Languages Act of 1990 (25 U.S.C. 2901, et seq.); and (3) support the Nation's First Peoples' efforts to maintain and revitalize the language.

  • The Northwest Indian Language Institute (NILI) was created at the University of Oregon (UO) in 1997 as an answer to Oregon, Washington and Idaho tribal requests for Native language teacher training. Ichishkíin language teachers from Warm Springs and the Yakama Nation who had attended the American Indian Language Development Institute (AILDI) were inspired to develop their own institute to address specifically the needs of their critically endangered Pacific Northwest language communities, which began summer 1998. Since then, NILI has become a year-round program serving Native language communities locally, nationally and internationally. More info here

  • No, we support Alaska, Washington, Oregon, Idaho & Montana. We also connect anyone with their states support center if they are having difficulties locating support in their area.

  • No, we also provide support in areas of program design, marketing, policies. We understand the management a language program takes a team and many moving parts to operate.

  • Stacey Skan

    Project Manager-NALRC NW

    Member of Tlingit & Haida Nations

  • Robert Elliott

    NILI Director

  • Janna Underriner

    Northwest Indian Language Institute (NILI) & Research Associate Professor

  • Joana Jansen

    Northwest Indian Language Institute (NILI)

    Senior Research Associate II