Tribal preschool adds Luiseño language classes (fwd)

[phil cash cash]

Tribal preschool adds Luiseño language classes

Download story podcast
11:28 PM PDT on Saturday, April 28, 2007

By JAMIE AYALA
The Press-Enterprise
http://www.pe.com/localnews/inland/stories/PE_News_Local_D_native29.3ed4553.html

SOBOBA INDIAN RESERVATION - To the faint tune of the children's song "Are
You Sleeping?" Soboba tribal preschoolers count their fingers in their
native language, Luiseño.

"Supul, weh, paahay (One, two, three). Supul, weh, paahay. Wasa, mahaar
(four, five). Wasa, mahaar."

The addition of language lessons is one of the changes in the reservation
preschool program since the Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians started
operating it in 2000.

[photo inset - Silvia Flores / The Press-Enterprise
Alphabet cards for the Luiseño language line the wall behind Elaine Ohayon,
an assessment teacher, in the classroom for 3-year-olds at the Soboba
Tribal Preschool in San Jacinto.]

"It helps keep their heritage alive," said parent Shawn Briones.

Shortly after Ahmium Preschool closed its doors, Soboba began its own
program. Ahmium had been in operation for about 25 years but lost its state
funding because parents earned more than the revenue limit for financial
aid. The new program still functions on grants but also has tribal
financial support as well, said Rose Salgado, tribal secretary.

"The need was still there, so it was important to keep the program going,"
she said.

The preschool, which is run out of the former Noli Indian School off Soboba
Road, is open only to American Indian families, at no cost. Tribal members
get first priority.

Today there are 54 children, mostly 3- and 4-years-olds, enrolled in morning
and afternoon sessions.

There are two head classroom teachers and two additional teachers to provide
individualized instruction.

Over the past few years, Director Linda Bednar has helped implement several
changes in the program, including emphasis on academics and a year-round
schedule.

"This isn't a day care," Bednar said. "And a program is more successful if
it has continuity."

A new after-school accelerated reading program was started recently.
Children who are ahead in reading work with teens on more advanced studies.
Also new is optional homework and a parent committee. During the summer, an
infant circle time is held for children up to 24 months old to expose them
to the preschool environment

A full-time cook is also on staff for breakfast and lunch. Bednar said she
wants to avoid unhealthy meals. The cook also helps with the school
library.

Kathy Lopez said she did not feel her older daughter, now 7, was prepared
for kindergarten through the former preschool program. But since her other
daughter started attending, she is more confident about the program, she
said.

"She is writing her name and working on homework," Lopez said.

Culture has also been a heavy mandate from tribal members.

"That's something they don't provide in public schools," Salgado said.

Classrooms are decorated with Indian artifacts and symbols. One has a letter
bulletin board with photos such as an arrowhead, a buffalo and a canoe.

Fridays are considered culture day and often include guest speakers who
demonstrate things like how to make wiiwish, an Indian dish made with
acorns, and which local flora and fauna have medicinal or cooking uses.

For a half-hour every day, children concentrate on the Luiseño language.
Every year, 225 new words are introduced and taught. To reinforce the
language at home, parents receive a monthly sheet of word samples and
homemade books.

Eric Elliott, language specialist at Pechanga, and Bill Madrigal, who
teaches local Luiseño classes for adults, created teaching materials.

Still, teachers must find ways to incorporate the lessons.

"How are you?" teacher Dawn Murphey asks each child in Luiseño and English.

In a small, tired voice, 4-year-old Shyann Morreo pronounces that she is
"qay looviq," or not good.

The group proceeds through short activities like singing the numbers and a
game practicing how to say certain colors.

Murphey, a native from the San Juan Capistrano tribe, Juaneño, said she
tries using the Luiseño words throughout the day.

"We're still learning ourselves," she said.

Bednar doesn't want to lose the progress students are making, especially
with the language. She is pushing for additional grade levels.

Salgado said the tribe still needs to consider the details of such
expansion, especially costs.

Reach Jamie Ayala at 951-763-3451 or jayala at pe.com