Forging Empowering Native Spaces: Native Languages Finding their Rightful Place in School
Sheilah Nicholas of the American Indian Language Development Institute (AILDI) incorporates historical context and highlights the value of pedagogies of hope over those of hopelessness. This includes quotes from children motivated to learn their language. She illuminates how words have the power to change the future and identifies six indigenous superpowers (an idea that comes from the Māori community) underlying cultural and personal resilience amongst indigenous communities and individuals: Language, land, place, community, culture, and identity. Watch this video for insights into reclaiming your own and your community’s indigenous superpowers. You’ll see examples of how youth today are incorporating traditions and customs, connection to land/language that may help you reflect on your own.
Resources
Chat Transcript
11:40:58 From Robert Elliott to Everyone:
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1nVJeAyWETCVvNT3jyodp2US7dp5AVm4KXfOYXwTwo3w/edit?usp=sharing
11:51:07 From Keegan Livermore (he/they) to Everyone:
https://uoregon.zoom.us/j/96141796278
11:53:54 From Tuxamshish ku Taysiki to Everyone:
the word for family would be cute!
11:56:09 From Robert Elliott to Everyone:
https://blogs.uoregon.edu/trails/2022-2/schedule-and-video/
11:57:50 From shayla stwyer to Everyone:
it’ukdi kadux
11:59:36 From Joana Jansen to Everyone:
If your language has a written form, Please share a greeting and thee name of your language!
12:00:03 From Briar Greisinger to Everyone:
shekoli (Oneida)
12:00:04 From Alexandria Anguiano to Everyone:
Niix pačwai
12:00:17 From Tuxamshish ku Taysiki to Everyone:
shix pachway! Ichishkiin
12:00:21 From Salena Cooper to Everyone:
Pesa Tabeno is in Numu and means Good Afternoon
12:00:36 From Joana Jansen to Everyone:
Yakama Shix̱ Páchway!
12:00:41 From Alexandria Anguiano to Everyone:
warm springs ichishkiin
12:00:46 From Joliene (any pronouns) to Everyone:
Iaorana (Rapa nui language. Not my language but a language of many beloved friends)
12:01:06 From Joliene (any pronouns) to Everyone:
Iorana* (typo)
12:06:48 From Joana Jansen to Everyone:
Yesterday Tux̱ámshish asked Me-lash-ne’ how he would translate ‘value’ to Tolowa Dee-ni’. A reflection question from Tux̱ámshish as we work together: How do you translate ‘value’ in your languages? What are values of your culture? How do values support you, your work, your existence?
12:10:42 From Franca Umasoye Igwe to Everyone:
I love the way you speak your language 👏🏾
12:24:37 From Keegan Livermore (he/they) to Everyone:
I love this form of practice with your community!
12:41:47 From Keegan Livermore (he/they) to Everyone:
What are the places of language use (in your community)? Who are the speaker-users of the language in these places? What form of language is being used by the speaker-users and for what purpose? https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1nVJeAyWETCVvNT3jyodp2US7dp5AVm4KXfOYXwTwo3w/edit?usp=sharing
12:59:32 From Sheilah E Nicholas to Everyone:
Dauenhauer & Dauenhauer
13:01:07 From Jesse Blackburn to Everyone:
Thanks to all in my group, and sorry we didn’t have more time!
13:01:28 From Joliene (any pronouns) to Everyone:
Thank you group 2 for all your contributions
13:03:40 From Joana Jansen to Everyone:
And please if anyone from group 1 wants to add to my summary do so here – what a good conversation –
13:04:45 From Joliene (any pronouns) to Everyone:
Yes! Same for group 2 – add or correct anything I said in my summary 🙂
13:06:43 From Sauk-Suiattle Group to Everyone:
can you add this Class to Katies Canvas her email is stoospum@yahoo.com
13:07:24 From Robert Elliott to Everyone:
We have a website…no canvas for the TRaiLS.
13:07:28 From Robert Elliott to Everyone:
https://blogs.uoregon.edu/trails/
13:08:58 From Joana Jansen to Everyone:
Katie, sorry, think I added a different email for you, a gmail one. I will change that!
13:14:33 From Elsie to Everyone:
Nchi kwathla Sheilah
13:14:48 From Tuxamshish ku Taysiki to Everyone:
I really appreciated the tree!
13:14:56 From Janne Underriner to Everyone:
Thank you, Sheilah
13:15:37 From Alex Nilo to Everyone:
This type of workshops would be great at the university levels
13:15:48 From Alex Nilo to Everyone:
Undergrads, grad school
13:15:49 From Alexandria Anguiano to Everyone:
I appreciate your presentation very much, ána kwaławit- thank you.
13:15:54 From Jesse Blackburn to Everyone:
Many thanks, Sheilah. This is such an important topic.
13:16:33 From Mary Porter to Everyone:
Thank You!
13:16:47 From Alex Nilo to Everyone:
There’s is an mou with 9 tribes and UO
13:17:24 From Joana Jansen to Everyone:
Thanks Sheilah and all!
13:17:25 From Franca Umasoye Igwe to Everyone:
thank you very much
13:17:26 From Sauk-Suiattle Group to Everyone:
huyt
Video
Additional Resources
Articles/reading:
– Hinton, Leanne. 1994. Flutes of Fire: Essays on California Indian Languages. Berkeley: Heyday Books.
– Jacob M. M. (2013). I Don’t Want Our Language to Die: Indigenous Language Revitalization, Survivance, and the Stakes of Building a Moral Community. In Yakama Rising: Indigenous Cultural Revitalization, Activism, and Healing (pp. 47–78). University of Arizona Press. http://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctt183gxfk.7
– McCarty, T. L., & Nicholas, S. E. (2014). Reclaiming Indigenous Languages: A Reconsideration of the Roles and Responsibilities of Schools. Review of Research in Education, 38, 106–136. http://www.jstor.org/stable/43284064
Dr. Eunice Romero-Little:
– Full list of extensive Research of Dr. Eunice Romero-Little
– Article of Dr. Eunice Romero-Litt cited in Dr. Nicholas’ presentation:
– Romero-Little, M.E. Learning the community’s curriculum: The linguistic, social and cultural resources of American Indian and Alaska Native children. American Indian Child Psychology and Mental Health, Vol 2: Prevention and Treatment (2011).
– Smolkin, L.B. & Suina, (1996). Lost in Language and Language Lost: Considering Native Language in Classrooms. Language Arts, 73(3), 166–172. http://www.jstor.org/stable/41484057
– Suina, J. H. (2004). Native Language Teachers in a Struggle for Language and Cultural Survival. Anthropology & Education Quarterly, 35(3), 281–302. http://www.jstor.org/stable/3651411
– Wexler, L. Looking across three generations of Alaska Natives to explore how culture fosters indigenous resilience. Transcultural psychiatry, 51(1), 73-92.
Videos:
– Kamanā, K. and Wilson, W. [Sealaska Heritage Institute]. (2022, Feb 13) The ‘Aha Pūnana Leo Approach To Hawaiian Language Revitalization’. [Video]. YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PanVOfXHYSk
– Suina, J. [Crow Canyon Archeological Center] (2014, January 6) Travel with Crow Canyon: Dr. Joseph Suina’s Story [Video]. YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DizwWa7wnZY
– Nicholas, S. [AILDI at the University of Arizona] (2016, September 27) Is it hard to learn your language? (ATALM 2016) [Video]. YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2shUei9ukaA
Websites:
American Indian Language Development Institute: https://aildi.arizona.edu/
Reflection Questions from Sheilah E. Nicholas
– What are the places of language use in your community? (ex. home, school, longhouse)
– Who are the speaker-users of the language in those places? (ex. elders, youth, teachers/students)
– What form of the language is being used by speaker-users and for what purposes
– How can schools be friendlier places for Native Children and for heritage language learning?