The Tolowa (Taa-Laa-Wa) language (also called Smith River) is a member of the Pacific Coast subgroup of the Athabaskan language family. It is spoken by Tolowa Indians in southern Oregon and northern California. There are only a handful of remaining fully fluent native speakers, like Siletz Tribal Council Vice-Chairman, Bud Lane, for example. The Confederated Tribes of Siletz are attempting to revive it, offering courses for 6th- through 8th-grade...
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The Tolowa (Taa-Laa-Wa) language (also called Smith River) is a member of the Pacific Coast subgroup of the Athabaskan language family. It is spoken by Tolowa Indians in southern Oregon and northern California. There are only a handful of remaining fully fluent native speakers, like Siletz Tribal Council Vice-Chairman, Bud Lane, for example. The Confederated Tribes of Siletz are attempting to revive it, offering courses for 6th- through 8th-graders at the Siletz Valley Charter School, opening in the fall of 2006. Loren Bommelyn is a fluent speaker and linguist, who has published books teaching the language and teaches young Tolowa students in Crescent City, California.
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