Research

At the Interior Salishan Studies Centre, research is not simply about generating data—it’s about sustaining life, restoring cultural memory, and rebalancing relationships.

Research at the Centre

Language as Knowledge. Research as Relationship

Rooted in Indigenous methodologies and grounded in community priorities, the Interior Salishan Studies Centre (ISSC) supports a dynamic, collaborative research environment focused on the revitalization of Interior Salishan languages and knowledge systems.

A Community-Led, Place-Based Approach

Our research is inherently place-based, beginning with the Syilx territory where UBC Okanagan is located and expanding outward in widening circles to other Salishan-speaking nations. This approach recognizes Indigenous peoples as knowledge holders and leaders and prioritizes research that emerges from and serves their communities.

We honour the fundamental principle that Indigenous communities are the rightful stewards of their languages and knowledge. As such, the ISSC fosters projects that are developed in collaboration with Salishan communities, informed by local protocols and guided by Indigenous research ethics.

Core Research Areas

Language Recovery, Revitalization, and Reclamation

Supporting immersive, community-led efforts to restore fluency in critically endangered Interior Salishan languages.

Indigenous Knowledge Systems and Worldviews

Advancing research that reflects and sustains Salishan knowledge frameworks, philosophies and ways of knowing.

Urban Indigenous Research

Engaging with contemporary Salishan identities and language use in urban settings as part of a broader revitalization strategy.

Cultural and Linguistic Archiving

Recording, conserving and making accessible oral histories, language materials and cultural teachings.

Intra-Indigenous and Settler–Indigenous Relations

Exploring how Salishan knowledge can shape more respectful and reciprocal relationships across diverse communities.

Supporting Future Indigenous Researchers

The ISSC is also a home for graduate and undergraduate students engaged in Indigenous research, including those in the Indigenous Knowledges IGS theme. We provide mentorship, shared research space and opportunities to collaborate with community partners across the region.

By nurturing the next generation of Indigenous scholars, the ISSC helps ensure that language revitalization and cultural resurgence efforts will continue to thrive for years to come.

Research Stories

Discover the groundbreaking research shaping our world, told through compelling stories of innovation and impact.