Ukiah High students help carry forward nearly lost Northern Pomo language

Four high school graduates earned a state distinction for demonstrating proficiency in Northern Pomo this year, a language spoken in Northern California for thousands of years that nearly disappeared, the Ukiah Unified School District announced earlier this week.

Kala Wright, Taylor Feliz Jr., Izzy Garcia and Zach Martinez received California’s Seal of Biliteracy in Northern Pomo at graduation in June after completing Ukiah High School’s Native Language program, which completed its fifth year of instruction during the 2025-26 academic year, the school district said. Last year, the program saw the first two graduating seniors receive the state seal for Northern Pomo.