Fwd: [Native-American-Advocate] Oklahoma Indian Languages Need Your Help
David Lewis
coyotez at OREGON.UOREGON.EDU
Sun May 13 05:10:42 UTC 2001
>Date: Sat, 12 May 2001 16:30:49 -0500
>From: Sacred Heart <sacred.heart at mindspring.com>
>Subject: [Native-American-Advocate] Oklahoma Indian Languages Need Your Help
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>
>.....
>Dear friends of Indian languages,
>
>Oklahoma Indian languages need your help!
>
>A resolution is approaching a vote in the state legislature, which can help
>protect Indian languages, and will put the state on record as supporting
>their survival. The resolution (with the working title of Oklahoma Indian
>Language Heritage Protection Act) was developed at the Intertribal Wordpath
>Society, a nonprofit organization promoting the teaching, awareness, use, and
>status of Oklahoma Indian languages. We first introduced it last year, but
>it never made it to a vote. This year we have the firm support of Senators
>Ted Fisher and Cal Hobson, and Representatives Opio Toure, Kenneth Corn, and
>Bill Nations. It will be introduced soon, probably next week, beginning in
>the Senate. We have requested it be brought to a vote on Wednesday, May 16,
>but there is no guarantee of a specific date, since we are in the last 3
>weeks of the legislative session. (Note: the Senate and the House may vote
>on different days.). PLEASE CONTACT YOUR REPRESENTATIVE AND SENATOR
>IMMEDIATELY. Contact information is at:
>
> <http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/>http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/
>
>I've attached a copy of the resolution in WordPad format. Please have a look
>at it. To my knowledge, no other state has passed anything like this. It
>will be a good statement for our government to make; and it may help, when it
>comes to getting languages taught in the schools, and in many other ways.
>
>LeRoy Sealy and I visited the sponsors at the Capitol Wednesday. We feel
>this has a good chance of passing. But we're asking all of you to phone,
>e-mail, and/or visit your Representatives and Senators, ASAP. We're told
>they will not get copies of the measure in advance (except the few we have
>already visited). The clerk will read the resolution aloud, and it will
>probably be voted on by acclamation. Please contact your legislators
>Monday!! Explain why the measure is important to you, educate them, and
>prepare them to vote affirmatively. The process is important: even those who
>may choose to vote against (if any) need to know that support for Indian
>languages is deep and wide. Ask them to notify you of the date of the vote
>as soon as it is definite. Remember: lots of phone calls may help ensure
>that this measure actually gets onto the agenda before the session ends.
>
>Please forward this letter and the resolution to all your friends, relevant
>lists, organizations, etc., all over Oklahoma. Please forward to tribes you
>have e-mail addresses for (we don't have everyone's). And don't forget those
>who don't have e-mail. Print out the resolution and post it where others can
>see it, asking them to contact their legislators also. Indians,
>non-Indians--everybody.
>
>One more thing. We had thought of arranging a rally on the Capitol steps;
>but the final stages of the process are happening so fast, we're not sure
>there's time, or that it's the best use of our time at this point. What do
>you think? If there is interest out there, especially from tribal
>governments or other organizations that have the time and staff power to do
>some VERY quick networking, and bring busloads of supporters to the Capitol
>(say, on Tuesday?), please contact me, and let's coordinate our efforts. The
>publicity would be good for our cause, and a good turnout could influence
>votes. The last I heard, there is no charge for the Capitol steps, but you
>have to reserve them; and I don't know the availability next week.
>
>Finally, if at all possible, come to the Capitol for the votes. Let's fill
>the galleries. Take off work! This will be a historic moment to witness.
>And, if votes are not recorded individually, we need many eyes to notice who
>votes for, and who against. When I hear any further news about the likely
>scheduling of the vote, I'll pass it on (could be anytime from this Monday to
>May 25, the session's end).
>
>Thank you for your time and your help. Next month we can look back on our
>efforts with pride.
>
>Sincerely,
>
>Alice Anderton, Ph.D.
>Executive Director
>Intertribal Wordpath Society
>1506 Barkley St.
>Norman, OK 73071
>405-447-6103
>ToWordpath at a...
>http:www.ahalenia.com/iws
>
>- - - - - -
>
>OKLAHOMA INDIAN LANGUAGE HERITAGE PROTECTION ACT (draft)
>Senate Concurrent Resolution, By Ted Fisher, Cal Hobson (Senate);
>Opio Toure, Kenneth Corn, Bill Nations (House)
>
>AS INTRODUCED
>
>A Concurrent Resolution endorsing the Native American Language Act of 1990;
>encouraging the teaching and learning of Native American languages; opposing
>artificial barriers to teaching and learning Native American languages;
>urging measures to foster respect for Native American languages; and
>directing distribution.
>
> WHEREAS, the Native American Language Act of 1990 (Public Law 101-477)
>enunciates the policy of the United States government to "preserve, protect,
>and promote the rights and freedom of Native Americans to use, practice, and
>develop Native American languages"; and
>
> WHEREAS, the state of Oklahoma is home to 39 tribes, members of which
>still speak 25 Native American languages. Until recently, Oklahoma had more
>Native American citizens than any other state. Their histories, cultures and
>languages together comprise a unique heritage that helps make our state
>great; and
>
> WHEREAS, Native American languages are crucial to the identity,
>self-esteem, and success of young Native Americans. Many Oklahoma heroes
>have spoken Native American languages, and many Oklahoma youth would like to
>have the connection of a shared language with these heroes; and
>
> WHEREAS, Native American history, culture, and language are so
>interrelated that when a language dies, it takes with it literature, oral
>history, song, and other important aspects of Native American cultural
>heritage. The pressures of modern American culture as expressed in
>television, radio, education, and public life have steadily decreased the
>attention paid to Indian languages by some Oklahomans; and
>
> WHEREAS, our state values its great diversity of culture, as evidenced
>by
>our slogan "Oklahoma - Native America". Native American languages are just
>as sophisticated and just as enriching to the lives of their speakers as are
>other languages; and
>
> WHEREAS, linguistic and pedagogical study have demonstrated that the
>cherishing of a people's language of heritage in no way threatens the status
>of the common language of most Oklahomans and of public discourse in
>Oklahoma; and
>
> WHEREAS, one-third of all Oklahoma Native American languages have
>already
>become extinct in our state, and the remaining ones are endangered; and
>
> WHEREAS, the state of Oklahoma takes pride in the history and
> culture of
>
>Native American people as expressed in their traditional languages and
>considers those languages a treasured part of the heritage of our state and
>of the individual tribes of our state; and
>
> WHEREAS, the state of Oklahoma seeks to preserve, protect, and promote
>our Native American language heritage.
>
> NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE 1ST SESSION OF THE
>48TH OKLAHOMA LEGISLATURE, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN:
>
> THAT the Oklahoma State Legislature endorses and supports the policy of
>the United States government enunciated in the Native American Language Act
>of 1990 to "preserve, protect, and promote the rights and freedom of Native
>Americans to use, practice and develop Native American languages".
>
> THAT the Oklahoma State Legislature encourages the teaching and
> learning
>of Native American languages at all levels of instruction.
>
> THAT the Oklahoma State Legislature opposes artificial barriers to the
>instruction or learning of Native American languages and encourages all
>education authorities to take all appropriate steps to promote and encourage
>the instruction and learning of Native American languages.
>
> THAT the Oklahoma State Legislature urges the Superintendent of Public
>Instruction to take appropriate measures to foster respect for Native
>American languages and to vigilantly address any situations that may occur
>where proper respect for Native American languages is not provided.
>
> THAT a copy of this resolution be distributed to the Superintendent of
>Public Instruction and the Executive Director of the Intertribal Wordpath
>Society.
>
>
>
>
>
>
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David Gene Lewis Department of Anthropology
Graduate student University of Oregon
cell 541-510-0217 Eugene, OR 97403
coyotez at oregon.uoregon.edu talapus at kalapuya.com
http://gladstone.uoregon.edu/~coyotez http://www.kalapuya.com
Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde, Kalapuya Tribe
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