Ukiah High students help carry forward nearly lost Northern Pomo language 

UKIAH, CA., 8/27/26 — 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 but almost disappeared, the Ukiah Unified School District announced Monday. 

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