Talking About the Future….
There is irreparable damage to the indigenous citizens of this country. Such a loss cannot be calculated my means of dollars or “sense”. Without guidance to the next generation another incalculable loss of tradition and culture will fray the woven strings in the blanket of life of the people, held together predominantly by elders speaking their languages fluently.
~Rebecca Balog
There were approximately 800 individual American Indian languages present in North America before the European arrival. For centuries the accurate history of the people (truth), stories, spirit talk, and education have been in the form of story telling. Language is a sacred space for survival. It is a devastating blow that only 200 Native Languages still exist, with mere handfuls being taught at home first-hand to a following generation [1]. Too many languages are on the brink of extinction. Fifty traditional languages have become extinct in California alone since 1800. Stories of great honor, the tales of how things came to be, great deed, and spiritual designation are told in individualized languages from Florida to Alaska with many words not translatable in the English language. Elders spoke, leaders delegated, and healer responses were automatic. Mothers and caregivers promote language in the home, yet language use seems now to be determined in young society in the classroom and social experience, instead of by the cultural values [2].
Language to culture is of highest importance. In modern times, the neglect of these languages can be a painful experience for older generations. The Mono tribe of California is experiencing the difficulties of losing the native tongue. As North Fork Mono Rancheria Tribal Council Treasurer, Maryann McGovran states, “Language is the heart of our tribe, it shows who we are and what are people are about.”[1] Mono is one of fifty California Native languages on the language-endangered list [2]; fifty more have disappeared since the year 1800. An avid student and teacher of indigenous languages is Leanne Hinton. Hinton, a professor of Linguistics at the University of California Berkley states, “When you lose a language, it’s a symptom of losing a whole culture.” [3]
Saving these languages is not easy task, especially when so few people speak them. The future is affected by modern times and a disintegrated view from youth in recent times to not speak their language. The loss of language and communication is a reflection of the loss of culture. There is irreparable damage to the indigenous citizens of this country. Such a loss cannot be calculated my means of dollars or “sense”. Without guidance to the next generation another incalculable loss of tradition and culture will fray the woven strings in the blanket of life of the people, held together predominantly by elders speaking their languages fluently.
Currently, the department of the American Indian Language Preservation at the Center of University of Arizona Institute is celebrating its 31 years of language preservation. If you are American Indian, if you are four, twenty-four or ninety-four years of age, please speak your language. If you are full blood, mixed blood, rez, urban or adopted, learn and speak your language. If your language is lost in your family, search out others who will teach you, speak it everyday and teach others to revitalize our past to reclaim the future.
"Language contains generations of wisdom, going back to antiquity. Our languages contain a significant part of the world's knowledge and wisdom. When a language is lost, much of the knowledge that language represents is also lost.” [4]
Currently public schools across the country are teaching languages as current curriculum to revitalize languages equal to mathematics and English grammar. A great support has bloomed across the country in support for local tribes in the preservation and promotion of local languages, by helping them to take advantage of the University resources and community support. Kudos for that!
[1] cCarthy, C., 2006
[2 Krass, Summer Institute of Linguistics
[2] Hybels & Weaver, 2007
[3]Association on American Indian Affairs
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