Thompson Rivers University is developing a program to bring native language teachers into classrooms, to stop what one leader called a crisis of culture.

Dean of Education Jack Miller is leading the effort to turn out language teachers into elementary and secondary classrooms in three languages: Secwepemc (Shuswap), Nlaka'pamux (Thompson) and St'at'imc (Statlium).

The program at TRU would instruct young adults or First Nations elders in language and educational curriculum. Graduates of a three-year program would be granted a developmental term certificate.

"It's designed to give people a type of certification to teach the language," Miller said. "They could upgrade (later) to a bachelor of education."

Nathan Matthew, a former Simpc Indian Band chief and now an administrator at TRU, said few young people grow up with Secwepemc in the home.

"It's at the crisis stage. Every time we lose an elder we lose a part of our language."

The other two Interior Salish languages are suffering a similar fate.

"The challenge of building capacity to instruct in First Nations languages is critical," Nathan said. "Our elders, that's their first language. They know it best because they grew up with it."

Miller said one of the biggest challenges is funding. He doesn't expect a large enrollment in the education program but is hoping to make that up with general interest from liberal arts students in Secwepemc classes.

Matthew agreed, saying "I think we'd have a fair amount of interest, and not just from First Nations students."

The program is in its early stages. The goal, Matthew said, is to have full university programs in Interior Salish languages, just as students can study French, English or Asian languages.

"That's one of our ultimate goals, to have that taught here. We almost have to go through this stage first."