So after explaining place names and slang to someone, I found a free online class to learn Chinook Jargon which is part of a revitalization project as the language is considered "Critically Endangered". At one time, more people in BC spoke it than English.

Partner wants to learn it with me (we both come from the same town so it's kind of a nice thing we can try to feel connected to it). It's a trade language and was spoken by Indigenous people and settlers to communicate, and anyone can learn it.

Northern Chinook Jargon is considered slightly different than what is spoken in the U.S. Pacific Northwest where Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde have been working on a revitalization project. There are also college courses there. The southern version is considered a creole at this point.

People across the area that used to be called Columbia all spoke Chinook Jargon, but were cut off from each other when the border at the 49th parallel was put in. So I'll be working on the BC variant, Northern specifically to try and avoid getting too confused. I might get brave and try the weekly zoom class they're offering.

And some links because my previous post was an aside on a longer thread

https://thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/chinook-jargon (article written by Jay Powell and Sam Sullivan, Chinook Jargon speakers)

https://bcchinookjargon.ca/ (this is where the class is)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E6-F3s6E3do

CJ Place Names
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Chinook_Jargon_place_names