The state of Oregon developed avenues for students to work towards and obtain a seal of bi-literacy on their high school diploma for demonstrating the ability to read, write, listen, and speak in more than one language. Pendleton School District connected Taffy Carlisle from the Oregon Department of Education to the CTUIR Language Department to develop a pathway for students learning Indigenous languages at Nixya’awii and Pendleton High School to demonstrate proficiency and obtain this high honor. CTUIR Language Department has been working tirelessly to preserve languages lost due to colonization and assimilation efforts of the past. Part of this work has been a pre-school language immersion program, Kindergarten Heritage Language program, addition of first grade Heritage Language program, and High School Language programs.

Five graduating seniors have earned the high honor of the seal of bi-literacy for the first time.
Seth Scott of PHS, Nez Perce language
Christina Kaltsukis, Susie Patrick, Lily Picard, and Joseph Simon of  NCS, Umatilla language

Please visit the following link to read the full press release from CTUIR:
Five seniors awarded for proficiency in native languages