Introduction To Lushootseed: A Beginners Class

About this event

Introduction to Lushootseed: A Beginner’s Language Class

Come learn the language of this land!

Join us at Tidelands for an 8-week introduction to Southern Lushootseed with Heather Williams (Puyallup), a certified language teacher with the Puyallup Tribal Language Program.

Lushootseed is the ancestral language of the Coast Salish peoples of the Puget Sound region. Whether you've lived here your whole life or are new to the area, this class is an opportunity to deepen your relationship with the land, its people, and the language that has been spoken here since time immemorial.

No experience necessary! We'll start with the alphabet, pronunciation, and simple conversational skills. You'll be speaking Lushootseed from day one!

Over our 10 weeks together, we'll practice introducing ourselves, build confidence speaking the language, and explore ways to bring Lushootseed into our everyday lives. We'll share meals, learn in community, and end our course with a special gathering where students can showcase their new language skills and introduce themselves in Lushootseed.

What You'll Learn

• The Southern Lushootseed alphabet and pronunciation

• Basic conversational skills and everyday expressions

• How to introduce yourself in Lushootseed

• Ways to incorporate the language into your daily life

Class Details

Starts: Tuesday, November 10, 2026

Schedule: Tuesday evenings for 10 weeks

Location: Tidelands, 55 University Street, Seattle, WA

Instructor: Heather Williams (Puyallup), Puyallup Tribal Language Program

Experience: All beginners welcome!

Sharing Meals, Building Community

Learning together also means sharing meals together! Tidelands will provide dinner for our first class. After that, students will sign up to take turns bringing dinner for the group. It's a simple way to care for one another, build relationships, and make our Tuesday evenings feel like community.

Learning Lushootseed is about more than learning words. It's about building relationships with the land, honoring the people whose language this is, and helping ensure that Lushootseed continues to be spoken for generations to come.

We hope you'll join us!

The class is $300 to help pay Heather, but we have scholarships available for educators and Native American students. If you would like to sponsor a learner, that is also encouraged. T'igwicid!