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Why Should We Keep Tribal Languages Alive?
I can't stress enough the importance of retaining our tribal languages, when it comes to the core relevance or existence of our people. Our languages can teach us many things through daily use. Language can teach us respect, for ourselves and each other, our elders, women and most importantly, the things that allowed us to exist. Our children deserve nothing less than to have inherited their own language. You could argue that when a tribe loses its language, it loses a piece of its inner-most being, a part of its soul or spirit. That is how important and meaningful our languages are to us as the original inhabitants of this hemisphere.
Historically, our ancestors relied on our language to communicate with each other and sister tribes, and when we met other tribes, we utilized sign as an alternative language to communicate. Symbols or icons were also a source of documenting our history on stone surfaces or skins, known as Winter Counts, but languages were our main source of communicating with each other. You could lay blame for the loss of some of our languages on the Boarding Schools, where we were severely punished for speaking them, but that seems a weak excuse.
The truth is, it is our own fault and no one else's. Today, most tribal nations continue to struggle to retain their native tongues due to attrition, assimilation and lack of use, and sadly, some have lost them forever. Our tribal colleges and schools are our only line of defense or hope, when it comes to saving our languages at this point, because we have for the most part, refrained from speaking our languages fluently at home or amongst each other. Immersion classes have sprung up in some of our communities—but is it too late?
We have no choice; we have to assume it is not too late, but it is an ongoing struggle to keep our languages alive. My personal hope is that our present efforts will set the template for tomorrow, and that we can save our languages for those present today and those yet to be born. We need to retain and pass our tribal languages on to the next generations if we are to remain relevant as a people. We can make the comparison of losing our language to an explorer having lost his compass—and we cannot afford to lose our cultural compass, that which so clearly defines us. Speak your language if you know it, or learn it if you can, but do not let it go due to neglect. That is not who we are, or what we do, as a people. Now is the crucial time to protect and embrace your mother('s) tongue.
When it comes to native languages, the situation is simple: Use it or lose it.
Aho.
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Richard
SIR,
SIR,
DO YOU SPEAK YOUR LANGUAGE? ITS ALWAYS NICE TO GIVE FREE "ADVICE", BUT, ONE SEEMS MORE BELIEABLE IF THEY CAN SPEAK THEIR LANGUAGE. HAHO NA HOKAHEY!
MR. SKYHAWK, YOU GIVE GREAT
MR. SKYHAWK, YOU GIVE GREAT ADVICE. BTW, DO YOU SPEAK YOUR LANGUAGE? JUST CURIOUS AND, IF YOU DON'T, YOU DON'T. HOWEVER, I FEEL IF YOU'RE GIVING ADVICE, SHARING YOUR COMMENTARIES AND OBSERVATIONS, DON'T YOU THINK IT IS ALSO WISE TO "WALK THE TALK"???? PLEASE DON'T TAKE THIS PERSONAL, BUT, I'VE FOUND OVER THE YEARS FOLKS SUCH AS YOURSELF WHO GIVE ADVICE FREELY CANNOT EITHER SPEAK THEIR LANGUAGE OR HAVEN'T EVER LIVED ON A "REZ"! BEING A NATIVE AMERICAN IS A 24/7 ONGOING RESPONSIBITY, INCLUDING SPEAKING YOUR NATIVE LANGUAGE. HAHO NA HOKAHEY!!!!
Chis sqelixw u qe sqe?elixw
Chis sqelixw u qe sqe?elixw lu Selish(I am a human being and my language is Salish) ...S'pe'-xm(Bitterroot is the band I am from)... Chiqs 'tuulmist u siscut pistem chn uwewlsh l qe Selish nuwewlshtn. (I am going to make myself feel better and be smart when i talk in our salish language) Ha ishe kw uwewlsh t selish(Do you know how to talk Salis?..uneh u tah(yes or no?)...chn n'kwn'kwucin.(I am saying one word at a time).u chn aytcin...(and i am speaking with passion)..Axlasqt (everyday
Aye Siam e ne Schaleche Siam.
Aye Siam e ne Schaleche Siam...
I must say I'm rather
I must say I'm rather offended at the author's claims that it is our fault the languages were lost as a result of residential schools. Were the children supposed to just continue to speak their languages even though they were brutally tortured and beaten each time they did? What of the cases when there was no one to even speak it to. Blaming children who were tortured is obscene, in my opinion.
It is certainly not our fault.
However the criminals and psychopaths who did this to us didn't feel one bit sorry about it, most of them are long dead, and the inheritors of their culture don't give one whit except to gloat at the cultural destruction their people have wrecked.
It is up to us and only to us to seize back and rebuild our own lost languages. To do so is necessary in order to retain and to recover our identity.
Giving up the ability to
Giving up the ability to speak more than one language is akin to giving up the possibility of getting hired for a job. Of course, those persons who speak one language will discourage those who do from doing so, bringing bilingual, trilingual individuals down to their level, don't be fooled. While the bilingual person is being made to feel ashamed, embarrassed and uncomfortable for speaking other languages, those mocking them are the ones receiving college credits and degrees for learning a different language. Interesting that most Spanish/French teachers are rarely of Spanish or French descent. Curious, to say the least. Signs reading "Speak English" everywhere, and yet, most students in foreign language classes are "English Speakers", ironic or something fishy is going on.
Hello to all peoples
Hello to all peoples
i have made a comment about half -breeds getting ahead for themselves.
i do apologize to everyone it really not about being full-blood although thats where i got my teachings being raised in ceremonies.
it takes the mind,heart & spirit to be one with life.
its not the skincolor.
thank you to all our leaders, athletes,artist...etc..........
may the GreatSpirit watch over us all & our future generations..Rockchild=Inyan Hoksicila
I believe that our language
I believe that our language should be taught to old and young alike. My mother would never talk to me about being Indian, and now that I am liking closer to my tribe it is hard for me to find out more of our life
my parents admitted that it
my parents admitted that it was "their fault" (after frustrations to teach us at an older age) that they didn't speak the language to us. I am not offended and I don't think they would be either. they did not attend a boarding school, they attended public schools.
It annoys me when we as
It annoys me when we as natives say that the school system should teach our language. Its ridiculous! The schools systems can barely manage the regular curriculum, not to mention just getting dedicated teachers is challenging.
Ultimately, its the family's responsibility; parents, aunts, uncles, grandparents, siblings, friends, clans people, etc. If we don't value our language enough to use at home how do we expect our young people to want to learn. Its the daily exchanges that really allow better learning and a deeper understanding of the language in a given context.
But then I notice its only in America that people make a big deal about learning languages as if it is a foreign and highly complex concept that requires a trip to the moon and lots of money. There are people in many parts of the world that are multilingual. The only difference is..... they are motivated.
When I grew up only Dineh bezaad was spoken in our home. I don't even recall when I learned English all I know is I was able to understand it one day. My siblings and I interpreted for our parents and it amazes me now but I'm beginning to forget words. But of course the reason is because I don't live around my people so I don't use the language daily. It scares and worries me. But you can bet I speak Navajo every chance I get. And yes I speak it to my nieces and nephews especially if I know they understand.
I do pretty good with Spanish too and if my husband's family spoke their native language you can bet I would have learned. But I'm motivated because of my fascination with cultures......... for which language is the key.
I believe in keeping our
I believe in keeping our language alive. In my home as I grew up my parents did not let English be spoken unless there were guest who only spoke english. I did have a hard time at first in school (white school) but I made it (I have two masters). Education was very important in our house, be it education about our heritage or white education as we have to live in both worlds. it is up to the parents and elders to keep this going as my grandparents believed.