Survival of Indigenous Languages

"The important thing is to feel your music, really feel it and believe it." –Ray Charles

SURVIVAL OF INDIGENOUS LANGUAGES

At the 2003 World Forum in Acapulco, Dr. Mary Todd, in a paper she prepared in conjunction with Norman Jimerson, Ph.D., and Lori Quigley, Ph.D., observed:

"Seneca Nation of Indians is one of six tribes of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, commonly known as the Iroquois....Senaca Nation is a sovereign nation with its own government, laws, and social support systems.  Nationality is matrilineal and there are currently 7200 enrolled members. Seneca people have a unique language and a culture that is based on their beliefs in a living earth and a spiritual universe.  There are currently only about 200 fluent speakers of Seneca language.  It is estimated that without significant intervention, the language will be lost within 15 years.  

"Challenged with potential language and culture loss, Seneca Nation is aggressively pursuing programs and methods to help preserve and perpetuate the language.  A current grant from the Department of Education...is funding the development and implementation of a program targeting preschool students, their parents and their non-native speaking teachers.  It is an initiative which provides classroom materials based on a constructivist belief that children create their own knowledge through their interaction with the environment.  Preschool children are surrounded by opportunities to interact with information regarding Seneca language and culture.  Non-speaking teachers are supported in their attempts to integrate language and culture into classroom activities.  And also, language and culture education is provided directly to teachers and parents.  Teachers receive hours of montly instruction on actual stories, words and practices as well as strategies and tools for integrating this new information into the classroom.  Parents receive instruction which is situated in the context of a family evening -- the family is welcome to attend as traditional food is served.  The parents then participate in cultural and language learning activities, and the evening is concluded with a family social featuring traditional Native American music and dance.  

"The task of intervention is actually two-fold: first to design an effective program which will teach the youngest members of the Nation their language and culture, and second, to establish a research model which provides a frame and method for feedback that can then be applied to higher grades and even adult populations.  

"Seneca Nation is eager to share this modell and its effectiveness with other indigenous peoples.  The goal is to help all Native Americans reverse the trend of assimilation and instead embrace and live their traditional beliefs and also preserve the legacy for future generations."

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