Post by Okwes on Jul 7, 2007 10:59:02 GMT -5
Words to treasure
Washington Voices
Editorial views from across the state
The Nez Perce words and their translations fill a column on the white
board. They are the words for native plants and animals that have
sustained the tribe for generations: sunflower, black camas, wild
potatoes, bitter root, deer meat, salmon.
These are the words taught in a language program in Nespelem, Wash., by
the Joseph Band of the Nez Perce. The language itself constitutes an
important cultural sustenance for this tribe. While their original
homelands lie in the Wallowa Valley of Oregon, for more than 120 years
they have lived in exile on the Colville Indian Reservation in
north-central Washington. Last weekend, Spokesman-Review reporter Kevin
Graman wrote of the tribe's efforts to keep its native language alive.
Only a handful of elderly tribal members still speak this dialect, yet
volunteers and teachers in the tribe's language program work hard to
preserve it and teach it to their children. This sustenance means the
world to the descendants of this tribe, and it's a cultural treasure that
enhances our entire region.
Americans whose ancestors moved to this country from Europe often save
thousands of dollars and study the languages of that continent to prepare
for trips that will take them back to explore their cultural roots. Young
Americans now travel to developing countries around the globe to
experience different cultures and traditions.
It's ironic that, at the same time, we so easily ignore the cultural
richness right here in the Northwest. Fortunately, members of the Joseph
Band of the Nez Perce, along with other tribes, invest their energy in
keeping their traditions alive.
According to a report from an Arizona research project, linguists estimate
that before Europeans arrived in the United States and Canada, there were
300 to 500 native languages in North America. Today, more than 200 of them
remain, but only 34 are passed on as a first language to children.
By studying tribes in their region, the Arizona researchers have found
that American Indian students who study native language as well as English
perform better on English standardized tests. And the language itself acts
as a "socio-cultural glue" to connect the generations of families,
extended relatives and communities and improve their collective
well-being.
In other parts of the world, such as with the Maori tribes of New Zealand
and among native Hawaiians, similar efforts have revitalized indigenous
languages.
Educators have discovered unique ways to teach these languages. In
Hankinson, N.D., last year, teams from Sioux reservation schools competed
in a Dakota Sioux Scrabble tournament. The first word on the Scrabble
board was sa, which is pronounced "shah," for the color red.
Tribes should be recognized and supported in their efforts to revitalize
their native languages.
These ancient words convey the values and the soul of their people.
Without them, it's difficult to imagine these endangered native cultures —
and this priceless aspect of our region's diversity — can survive.
*
Washington Voices
Editorial views from across the state
The Nez Perce words and their translations fill a column on the white
board. They are the words for native plants and animals that have
sustained the tribe for generations: sunflower, black camas, wild
potatoes, bitter root, deer meat, salmon.
These are the words taught in a language program in Nespelem, Wash., by
the Joseph Band of the Nez Perce. The language itself constitutes an
important cultural sustenance for this tribe. While their original
homelands lie in the Wallowa Valley of Oregon, for more than 120 years
they have lived in exile on the Colville Indian Reservation in
north-central Washington. Last weekend, Spokesman-Review reporter Kevin
Graman wrote of the tribe's efforts to keep its native language alive.
Only a handful of elderly tribal members still speak this dialect, yet
volunteers and teachers in the tribe's language program work hard to
preserve it and teach it to their children. This sustenance means the
world to the descendants of this tribe, and it's a cultural treasure that
enhances our entire region.
Americans whose ancestors moved to this country from Europe often save
thousands of dollars and study the languages of that continent to prepare
for trips that will take them back to explore their cultural roots. Young
Americans now travel to developing countries around the globe to
experience different cultures and traditions.
It's ironic that, at the same time, we so easily ignore the cultural
richness right here in the Northwest. Fortunately, members of the Joseph
Band of the Nez Perce, along with other tribes, invest their energy in
keeping their traditions alive.
According to a report from an Arizona research project, linguists estimate
that before Europeans arrived in the United States and Canada, there were
300 to 500 native languages in North America. Today, more than 200 of them
remain, but only 34 are passed on as a first language to children.
By studying tribes in their region, the Arizona researchers have found
that American Indian students who study native language as well as English
perform better on English standardized tests. And the language itself acts
as a "socio-cultural glue" to connect the generations of families,
extended relatives and communities and improve their collective
well-being.
In other parts of the world, such as with the Maori tribes of New Zealand
and among native Hawaiians, similar efforts have revitalized indigenous
languages.
Educators have discovered unique ways to teach these languages. In
Hankinson, N.D., last year, teams from Sioux reservation schools competed
in a Dakota Sioux Scrabble tournament. The first word on the Scrabble
board was sa, which is pronounced "shah," for the color red.
Tribes should be recognized and supported in their efforts to revitalize
their native languages.
These ancient words convey the values and the soul of their people.
Without them, it's difficult to imagine these endangered native cultures —
and this priceless aspect of our region's diversity — can survive.
*