Reservation Redemption Interview with Barry "Salustu" Moses a member of the Spokane Tribe of Indians

Spokane Tribe Member | Educator | Language and Cultural Advocate Barry “Salustu” Moses is a member of the Spokane Tribe of Indians and a respected educator, cultural specialist, historian, and advocate for the preservation and revitalization of the Spokane Salish language. His tribal name, Sulustu, reflects his role as someone who helps bring worlds together through language, culture, and education. Moses has dedicated much of his career to preserving Indigenous language and cultural knowledge for future generations. He is the Executive Director of the Spokane Language House, which he founded to support the revitalization of the Spokane Salish language. He has also served as a program manager for adult language fluency initiatives, helping create opportunities for Spokane Tribal members to develop fluency and reconnect with their language and cultural identity. An educator with a bachelor's degree in secondary education from Eastern Washington University, Moses has worked as a teacher, cultural specialist, curriculum expert, and adult educator. His commitment to language preservation is deeply personal, shaped by learning Salish from family members and elders and through years of participation in cultural and spiritual practices. Moses is also a passionate student of Spokane history. His research helped uncover the original Salish name of Chief Spokane Garry, an important discovery that restored a piece of Spokane history and identity that had been lost from the historical record. Through his work, Moses continues to demonstrate that language is more than a means of communication—it is a connection to culture, spirituality, identity, and the land. His dedication to keeping Spokane language and traditions alive makes him an important voice in the cultural revitalization of the Spokane people. #indigenous #documentary #spirituality #film