SPOKANE, Wash. — In a significant step toward healing historical wounds, Catholic Charities transferred ownership of land along the Spokane River to Salish School of Spokane Wednesday afternoon.
“This is their land now, it was their land to begin with, it is their land again, as it should be,” said a Rob McCann, CEO and President of from Catholic Charities of Eastern Washington.
The agreement gives the school a place to create a village for the Salish community, featuring a new facility and recreation area. The site is located along the banks of the Spokane River near Spokane Falls Community College.
Students from the Salish School celebrated with traditional singing and drumming during the ceremony, marking the emotional significance of reclaiming their ancestral territory.
Dr. Robbie Paul, a Nez Perce elder and third-generation boarding school survivor, expressed deep emotion at the event.
“My heart is full, I can feel the ancestors just smiling really deep,” he said.
The land transfer represents more than just a property acquisition—it symbolizes a step toward reconciliation for historical injustices. For generations, Indigenous children were forcibly removed from their families and sent to boarding schools designed to erase their culture and force assimilation into Euro-American society.
“Those are generational wounds… this is starting the healing… in a way that can happen,” Dr. Paul said.
LaRae Wiley, Executive Director of the Salish School, described the future impact of the land return.
“Being next to the river and being at this site is going to be really helpful for expanding our footprint in native language revitalization,” she said.
The new Salish School will be constructed adjacent to a 33-acre conservation site. Once building is complete, restoration efforts will bring back native plants, allowing students to reconnect with their native land.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE: New Salish Village to be established along Spokane River
For Wiley, this achievement represents a dream she never expected to see fulfilled in her lifetime.
“It’s emotional because it’s a return and you can feel it’s got energy and the wholeness of the students and the family and everyone is here,” she said.
Before the ceremony began, Dr. Paul gave a blessing for the land, asking good spirits to enter the land.
The Salish School has already raised $7 million for the project but needs an additional $3 million to complete it.
“This is part of reconciliation…. and you can help contribute to that,” Dr. Paul told attendees.
Community members interested in supporting this initiative can donate here.
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