Native Languages Advocacy: Building Indian Nations
Patricia/Patsy Whitefoot (Yakama/Diné) focuses on advocacy as an essential part of language work and in building Indian nations. In addition to discussing the importance of the topic and the need to plan and organize for effective advocacy, Pasty provides several resources to support one’s advocacy. She further highlights the following as valuable forms of advocacy: place-based education, taking healthy risks (like a group of young middle school girls who chose to wear traditional clothing to school one day), interdependence in working together, and generosity that fosters resilience.
Resources
Chat Transript
11:53:09 From Keegan Livermore (he/they) to Everyone:https://padlet.com/keegan_livermore/cbvwxdtx7botfpgb 12:01:19 From Robert Elliott to Everyone: How do you consider yourself an advocate for your language? 12:01:47 From Judith Fernandes to Everyone: by supporting tribes in any way I can 12:02:06 From Keegan Livermore (he/they) to Everyone: I have the privilege, opportunity, and challenge to try to show teenagers that they can and should use their language everyday! 12:03:10 From Joliene (she/they) to Everyone: Like Judith, I advocate by supporting in any way I can and am asked to, which often means logistical coordination 🙂 12:05:25 From carol banks to Everyone: when I worked at the LCC Library, I would talk to students about the chinuk-wawa program. And when chinuk students would come in<we would speak. 12:06:41 From Jesse Blackburn to Everyone: Like Judith, supporting tribes in any way I can. Also, advocating within school districts and with policymakers for Native language programs and greater exploration of Native languages for fulfilling Tribal History / Shared History curriculum requirements. 12:07:10 From Joana Jansen to Everyone: Going back to the discussion from yesterday on using your language – that is advocating for its visibility and use and strength 12:07:53 From Leila Jones (she/her) to Everyone: I spend a lot of time as a language tourist and communicate what I learn to others. I have also started to work with NILI and as a research assistant for linguistic analysis to revitalize indigenous languages in the Caribbean. My work has a greater impact than my personal curiosity with languages, but I enjoy both of them a lot 12:08:00 From janne underriner to Everyone: Shix Pachway, Welcome, Patricia………. 12:16:56 From Joana Jansen to Everyone: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6hFAY8npmXO 12:17:44 From Leila Jones (she/her) to Everyone: I found it Joana if you need it 12:44:57 From carol banks to Everyone: I’m sorry but I must leave leave early. 12:45:01 From Keegan Livermore (he/they) to Everyone: Padlet link: https://padlet.com/keegan_livermore/cbvwxdtx7botfpgb 12:46:21 From Leila Jones (she/her) to Everyone: social media is a large way that younger people are starting/strengthening advocacy movements. Organizing petitions, marches, networking, etc 12:49:08 From Joana Jansen to Everyone: UO’s Native Strategies group is a place to discuss advocacy with Indigenous and Indigenous-allied students, faculty, staffhttps://inclusion.uoregon.edu/native-american-strategies-group 13:00:53 From Leila Jones (she/her) to Everyone: can someone define MOU please? 13:01:01 From Keegan Livermore (he/they) to Everyone: memorandum of understanding 13:01:07 From Leila Jones (she/her) to Everyone: thanks! 13:01:28 From Robert Elliott to Everyone: DEF: A memorandum of understanding, or MOU, is a nonbinding agreement that states each party’s intentions to take action, conduct a business transaction, or form a new partnership. This type of agreement may also be referred to as a letter of intent (LOI) or memorandum of agreement (MOA). 13:05:18 From Alex Nilo to Everyone: youth council’s is a great approach 13:06:20 From Alex Nilo to Everyone: Waldorf Schools are greatt too 13:10:15 From Robert Elliott to Everyone: Warm Springs Academy: https://www.jcsd.k12.or.us/schools/wsk8/ 13:10:16 From Joana Jansen to Everyone: A bit of info on Title VIhttps://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/docs/hq43e4.html 13:12:11 From Alex Nilo to Everyone: maybe look into tribal natural resources grants or work with your natural resources program to utilize their grant money too? 13:13:28 From Suppah to Everyone: Patsi, Myra said hello 13:14:44 From Alex Nilo to Everyone: there needs to be something like a multicutlural training before the school season starts…. 13:14:53 From Robert Elliott to Keegan Livermore (he/they)(Direct Message): can you stop screen share? 13:14:54 From Alex Nilo to Everyone: We do that at Umatilla County 13:15:35 From Mary Porter to Everyone: Hi Patsi! Debra Whitefoot is one of my beloved friends you both are awesome! 13:15:46 From Suppah to Everyone: thank you Patsi 13:15:54 From Paulina Whitehat to Everyone: Thank you for the information! 13:15:59 From Patricia Whitefoot to Everyone: Shix pachway to everyone. 13:16:12 From Judith Fernandes to Everyone: Thanks so much for all that you do. 13:17:14 From Jesse Blackburn to Everyone: Thanks so much Patsy for your work and the instructive talk! 13:18:36 From Joana Jansen to Everyone: Wendy just a sec we see your hand! 13:18:59 From Wendy Sampson to Everyone: Hey Patsy- I have a question. its about the First people’s language teacher certificate program in WA state. Can you explain a little about the purpose of the WA state FPLTC program? 13:20:56 From Wendy Sampson to Everyone: was it to replace a college education or teaching degree? or serve more as an endorsement? 13:21:21 From Keegan Livermore (he/they) to Everyone: It is able to replace or satisfy the certification requirement! 13:22:52 From Keegan Livermore (he/they) to Everyone: The certification criteria are determined by the tribe in partnership with the WA OSPI to allow individuals to teach the language and culture without requiring a bachelor’s degree. It was to also allow elders to teach without the college experience needed. 13:26:55 From Paulina Whitehat to Everyone: I appreciate this conversation and wisdom shared. I’m going to return to my writing.
Video Link
Additional Resources
Wikipedia page for Patricia Whitefoot (includes links out to many articles on and relevant other publications to Patricia Whitefoot): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patricia_Whitefoot
Video:
– [Committee for Children] Celebrate Native American Educators: Patricia Whitefoot. (2021, November 21) [Video] YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uIIAi0NExas
– [Dallas The Cloud]. (2015, March 16.) “The Way We Speak” – Promo Video – “Yakama Nation Language” [Video]. YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6hFAY8npmX0
Indigenous cultures institute:
– https://indigenouscultures.org/?fbclid=IwAR218s7Zz5F_pPIl4rbqTTx7TO3PBGLyXjvAETEHFXOSj9K-v9BpiaPFR08
Led by Elders. Hosts of the Sacred Springs Powwow. Reconnecting youth to their Indigenous culture through education. Operating from Coahuiltecan territory (Central to southern TX).
Articles/readings:
– Ayer, T. (2019, March 27). Yakama educator, activist honored for work on missing indigenous women issue. Yakima Herald-Republic. Retrieved June 9, 2022, from https://www.yakimaherald.com/news/topics/the_vanished/yakama-educator-activist-honored-for-work-on-missing-indigenous-women-issue/article_8bda3a3e-5112-11e9-9ba9-1f3e549545c3.html
– Laginha, K.-J., & Mahboob, A. (2018). “You can’t just rely on what you know now”: Community teachers’ perspectives on language education in a revitalization context. Ab-Original, 2(1), 48–73. https://doi.org/10.5325/aboriginal.2.1.0048
– National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (Canada), & Cochrane, Caroline. (2019). Reclaiming power and place: the final report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls: Vol. Volume 1a; Volume 1a; Volume 1a [Documents]. https://jstor.org/stable/community.27990287
– Romero-Little, M.E. Globalization from the bottom up, inside-out, and outside-in: Indigenous language planning and policy from an Indigenous perspective: Commentary to Globalization from the Bottom Up: Indigenous Language Planning and Policy Across Time, Space, and Place. (2012).
– Sabzalian, L., Morrill, A., & Edmo, S. (2019). Deep organizing and Indigenous Studies legislation in Oregon. Journal of American Indian Education, 58(3), 34–57. https://doi.org/10.5749/jamerindieduc.58.3.0034
UN Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples:
National Coalition of Native American Language Schools and Programs:
– https://www.ncnalsp.org/ (this website includes several other resources listed in Patricia Whitefoot’s presentation)
Native American Languages Act on the National Coalition of Native American
– Language Schools and Programs: http://www.ncnalsp.org/know-the-laws
Native American Strategies Advocacy Group at the University of Oregon:
https://inclusion.uoregon.edu/native-american-strategies-group
Reflection questions from Patsy Whitefoot
– What about this presentation resonated with you?
– Could you use the language or templates (from Patsy’s presentation) to introduce to universities or colleges that will incorporate language or similar concerns? How? (question posed by participant Alex Nilo of Umatilla Tribes)