Dates: Thursdays, April 6, 13, 20, 27
Time: 10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Location: Montana Natural History Center

Learn the basics of Salish language through four units: animals, plants, trees, and birds. Salish language speaker and educator Aspen Decker will guide your practice through engaging games and language practice strategies. Become familiar with the Salish words for the animals and plants around us and how to call them by name.

Instructor:

Aspen Decker is an enrolled member of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes (T̓at̓ayáqn, Ql̓isp̓é & Sqlsé) and a speaker of my tribal language, Nsélišcn “Salish language.” She graduated with a master’s degree in linguistics from the University of Montana in 2021 and earned her bachelor’s degree in Tribal Historic Preservation from Salish Kootenai College in 2018. Aspen has a Montana Class 7 Native American Language and Culture Educator License and has been teaching Salish for 10 years.

Aspen’s passion for Salish language began when she was 13 years old, learning from her elder Patlik Pierre. He taught Aspen about the importance of perpetuating Salish language and culture. Raising her children in the language as first language speakers has been one of the ways that she honors his teachings.

What to Bring:

water/mug for coffee and tea
writing implement and journal

Cost: $140 MNHC members, $150 non-members. You can add your MNHC membership to your order when you check out. Scholarships are available! Please call 406.327.0405 to inquire.

Professional Development Credits: 6 OPI and NAI credits

FAQ

What’s the refund policy?

The course fee is refundable if a cancellation is made up to 7 days before the event. No refunds will be issued for cancellations made after this deadline. In light of changes to programming due to novel coronavirus (COVID-19), the Montana Natural History Center will make exceptions to its normal refund policy. These exceptions are as follows:
Any programs cancelled by the Montana Natural History Center are eligible for a full refund.
In the event a program fee can be rolled over to a following cycle or year, that offer will be made available to the paying program participant, and a spot will be reserved for the participant.
If a program is cancelled by a participant due to reasonable health and safety concerns from exposure risk to novel coronavirus (COVID-19), the Montana Natural History Center will issue a full refund.
If any participant experiences major illness, injury, or loss of a family member prior to the start of a registered program the participant is eligible for a full refund.

Do I have to bring my printed ticket to the event?

Nope! We will have a list of all the attendees.