Four Ukiah High graduates earn Northern Pomo biliteracy seal

Four Ukiah High School graduates earned California’s Seal of Biliteracy in Northern Pomo, bringing the statewide total to six students recognized in the language. The milestone highlights a five-year Ukiah Unified and tribal partnership aimed at revitalizing an Indigenous language that once came close to disappearing.

Why it matters: - Four Ukiah High School graduates earned California’s Seal of Biliteracy in Northern Pomo, a sign that the language is being taught and used by a new generation. - The latest awards bring the statewide total to six students recognized in Northern Pomo. - The result matters beyond the seal itself because the program is helping revitalize a language that was pushed toward disappearance.

What happened: - Kala Wright, Taylor Feliz Jr., Izzy Garcia and Zach Martinez earned the California Seal of Biliteracy in Northern Pomo this year. - The seal recognizes graduating seniors who demonstrate proficiency in English and another language. - Ukiah Unified School District said the Northern Pomo language program is in its fifth year. - Last year, the program produced its first two Seal recipients. - This year’s graduating class doubled that number. - Taylor Feliz Jr. said, “To be speaking words that were forbidden a hundred years ago, and to be learning them from the school system, is surreal.”

The details: - Other UHS seniors, including Taliah Ramos, completed four years of Northern Pomo study and reached proficiency even though they did not earn the state seal. - Northern Pomo was traditionally passed from one generation to the next through speech rather than writing. - Generations of Native people were persecuted and beaten for speaking Northern Pomo, and many families stopped teaching it at home to protect their children. - Ukiah Unified’s program grew from collaboration between the district and the local tribal community. - Julian Maldonado and Angela James worked with UC Berkeley linguist Kathryn O’Connor on the curriculum. - O’Connor’s doctoral research focused on the Northern Pomo language. - O’Connor’s work with fluent tribal elders helped shape the district’s curriculum. - Buffie Campbell now teaches the four-year course and connects language learning with culture, history and identity. - Ukiah Unified released a 4½-minute video and four student videos featuring students sharing what learning Northern Pomo has meant to them. - The district also made a complete media package available at the Northern Pomo seal of biliteracy page.

Between the lines: - Tribal leader Julian Maldonado described the growth in recognition as a “waterfall effect,” with each class building on the success of the last. - The expanding number of students who reach proficiency suggests the program is becoming more durable and self-reinforcing. - Superintendent Debra Kubin said the students are helping preserve “a language, a culture, and a history” that will continue to benefit future generations.

What’s next: - Ukiah Unified is using student and tribal leader videos to keep building awareness around language revitalization. - The program’s next challenge is sustaining student interest and moving more learners from study to recognized proficiency. - Continued participation from tribal leaders, educators and families will shape whether Northern Pomo keeps growing in future graduating classes.

The bottom line: - Northern Pomo is no longer just being preserved in classrooms; it is being carried forward by students who can now earn state recognition for speaking it.