Post by blackcrowheart on Jun 14, 2006 16:37:07 GMT -5
Tribal Preservation (language)
oregonmag.com/FDNatLang606.html
June 2006
Tribal Program Preserves Native Language, Culture
By Fred Delkin
Editor's Note: In 2001 Oregon Magazine published an editorial
criticizing a Umatilla Reservation program to teach tribal
schoolchildren their native language, stating that this effort
sidestepped the English language skills these students need for their
economic future. This misguided opinion piece was labeled "racist" by a
tribal spokesperson. The following describes this program that has
obvious cultural worth.
The Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Reservation have combined both
private foundation and federal funds to establish a master-apprentice
Language Preservation program in the tribal Nixyaawii community school
serving grades 9-12 on the reservation just east of Pendleton in
northeastern Oregon.
This three-year project partners students with tribal elders still
speaking native languages. At project's end dthe apprentices are
eligible for licensure by the tribe and the state of Oregon's Teacher
Standards and Practices Commission as teachers of Cayuse/Nez Perce,
Umatilla and Walla Walla languages.
The Umatilla reservation was established in 1855 by treaty and was
united by a single tribal government in 1949. There are currently 2,525
enrolled tribal members and a reservation of 158,000 acres.
We salute tribal chairman Albert Minthorn for his direction of an
outstanding effort to maintain tribal heritage. This includes a
just-concluded Culture Camp May 15-19 for 40 Nixyaawii students learning
traditional tribal values. An "Entrepeneur Workshop" has guided
students in specific techniques for starting a business..."strategies
for maximizing personal satisfaction and profits." June 15-22 16
students will participate in "journeys in creativity: explorations in
Native Art & Culture."
Certainly the Confederated Umatilla tribes are dedicated to guiding
their members into a bright future.
© 2006 Oregon Magazine
oregonmag.com/FDNatLang606.html
June 2006
Tribal Program Preserves Native Language, Culture
By Fred Delkin
Editor's Note: In 2001 Oregon Magazine published an editorial
criticizing a Umatilla Reservation program to teach tribal
schoolchildren their native language, stating that this effort
sidestepped the English language skills these students need for their
economic future. This misguided opinion piece was labeled "racist" by a
tribal spokesperson. The following describes this program that has
obvious cultural worth.
The Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Reservation have combined both
private foundation and federal funds to establish a master-apprentice
Language Preservation program in the tribal Nixyaawii community school
serving grades 9-12 on the reservation just east of Pendleton in
northeastern Oregon.
This three-year project partners students with tribal elders still
speaking native languages. At project's end dthe apprentices are
eligible for licensure by the tribe and the state of Oregon's Teacher
Standards and Practices Commission as teachers of Cayuse/Nez Perce,
Umatilla and Walla Walla languages.
The Umatilla reservation was established in 1855 by treaty and was
united by a single tribal government in 1949. There are currently 2,525
enrolled tribal members and a reservation of 158,000 acres.
We salute tribal chairman Albert Minthorn for his direction of an
outstanding effort to maintain tribal heritage. This includes a
just-concluded Culture Camp May 15-19 for 40 Nixyaawii students learning
traditional tribal values. An "Entrepeneur Workshop" has guided
students in specific techniques for starting a business..."strategies
for maximizing personal satisfaction and profits." June 15-22 16
students will participate in "journeys in creativity: explorations in
Native Art & Culture."
Certainly the Confederated Umatilla tribes are dedicated to guiding
their members into a bright future.
© 2006 Oregon Magazine