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The earliest I remember hearing nsəlxcin (okanagan salish) and understanding it was when I was about 4 years old. I started learning when I was about 7. Both my parents were second language learners and teachers at the school I went to. My very first language teachers were sʕamtíc̓aʔ (Sarah Peterson) and k̓ik̓waʔ (Alex Sam). They were first language speakers who would drive 1-2 hours one way every week to teach us.
When I was 12/13 my mom would take me with her to the language program where she worked as a language specialist. Sometimes we would sleep on the floor of the program so we didn't have to make the 4 hour round trip. I got to spend time with a group of first language speakers and second language learners doing things like hide tanning, root digging, berry picking, harvesting plants, beading, sewing, and language acquisition activities like TPR and the Greymorning method.
Also at the age of 13 I testified to the Senate to advocate for more language and culture in the school. I used to have dreams of the halls of the school I went to flooded and I was floating down the halls, dead. I was so disengaged with school I dropped out at 15 years old. My first job I ever had was also at the age of 15. That was summer youth working at the head start creating labels in nsəlxcin for the teachers for classroom items. That was the summer before I dropped out.
I went on to get my GED at 16 and immediately started going to a tribal college. Later I transferred to Eastern Washington University where I was getting a minor in Linguistics. The American Indian Studies Director told me they were no longer offering Salish Language and Culture classes because there wasn't enough interest to fund hiring an instructor. I told them I would teach the class for credit towards my linguistics degree. It turned out to be the most useful linguistic class I took because I started reading linguistic works by Dr. Anthony Mattina to be able to answer questions better to students.
After graduating I got a job as a language apprentice for the Coeur d'Alene tribe where I learned the Coeur d'Alene Language and also got training in early childhood development, psychology, and classroom management.
From there I worked as an immersion school teacher, curriculum developer, language program manager. I have worked as a training and technical assistance director to provide support to language grantees. I also have taught college courses to students getting their native language teacher degree in the areas of curriculum and best practices.
The biggest blessing I have had in this whole journey has been growing up around fluent speakers and having them mold my world view, values, beliefs, and knowledge. Without them, I would only have another way to say dog. I wouldn't be able to think and feel like a sqilxʷ.