Salish School of Spokane Began Campus Construction

The language-immersion school broke ground on a new site after receiving a 3.5-acre land donation.

Updated on Sept. 28, 2026 in Philanthropy

Large yellow excavator parked in a cleared dirt construction lot surrounded by pine trees on an overcast day. — The Salish School of Spokane began construction on a new 3.5-acre campus in August 2026, following a land donation from Catholic Charities. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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In August 2026, the Salish School of Spokane began construction on a new campus to replace its current facility on North Maple Street. The project follows a 2023 land donation from Catholic Charities, which provided 3.5 acres of property as reparations for historical abuse.

Why it matters

The new campus represents a major expansion for the institution, which serves 58 students through education in four endangered Southern Interior Salish languages. The collaboration with Catholic Charities serves as a restorative effort regarding past harm caused by Native American boarding schools.

The school has raised over $17 million to fund the new development, which is being executed in three distinct phases. The site spans 3.5 acres donated by Catholic Charities, providing significantly more space than the current North Maple Street location.

The players

Salish School of Spokane

This educational institution is dedicated to preserving and teaching four endangered Southern Interior Salish languages.

Catholic Charities

This organization is a social services agency that donated land to the school as part of an effort to address historical wrongs related to boarding schools.

The details

The upcoming campus is designed to include a schoolhouse, a cultural center, and athletic fields. Catholic Charities is developing the land alongside new affordable housing units to support the local Spokane community.

The Salish School of Spokane was founded in 2009.
Catholic Charities approached the school about the property in 2021.
The school accepted the land donation in 2023.
Construction officially began on the new campus in August 2026.
The new school campus is set to open in 2028.

Market Landscape

This project reflects a broader trend of institutions providing land-based reparations to address the legacy of the historical abuse linked to Native American boarding schools. The collaboration positions the school to scale its operations while partnering with organizations committed to social restitution.

Residents in Spokane will see the development of both a new cultural facility and accompanying affordable housing units on the site. Families currently served by the school will gain access to expanded athletic and academic facilities once the campus opens in 2028.

The takeaway

The Salish School of Spokane demonstrates how successful fundraising and community partnerships can support the preservation of endangered languages. Future projects of this nature may increasingly rely on institutional land transfers to address historical grievances while expanding local educational capacity.