Shinkashim™ is a division of Childress Media & Design, LLC, which offers Interior Salish language books and educational materials for young children as part of the on-going effort to preserve and promote the family of endangered Interior Salish languages. Shinkashim™ and its parent company, Childress Media & Design, LLC, are located just outside of Spokane, Washington in the heart of Interior Salish country.

Our Name

“Shinkashim” is an Anglicized—or some might say mangled—pronunciation of the Spokan Salish word smúkʷeʔšn (s-MOOK-weh-shin) meaning the arrow-leaf balsamroot (Balsamorhiza sagittata)—also locally called “sunflower”—a beautiful native daisy-like flower that colors the hills, prairies and dry pine forests of the homelands of Interior Salish language speakers in Washington, Idaho, Montana and British Columbia, Canada.  Blooming abundantly in May and June, “shinkashim” are happy harbingers of summer and good times.  The simple bright smiling flower and its bouncy fun name seemed an appropriate logo for our Interior Salish language materials which we hope will bring joy and fun to children everywhere.

About Salish

Salish is a family of Native American languages spoken by tribal people in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana and British Columbia, Canada. There are two different kinds of Salish: Coast Salish and Interior Salish. Coast Salish is spoken by people who live near the ocean. Interior Salish is spoken by people who live between the Cascade and Rocky Mountains.