POTENTIAL SPAM: Crow speakers

[Randolph Graczyk]

The following are excerpts from an article that appeared in the Big Horn 
County News, Hardin, Montana, last week.  I thought it might be of interest to 
readers of the Siouan list.

    "Riley Singer and Hans Hill were found to be the only fluent Crow 
speakers among the 233 Crow students at Hardin Middle School.  For them, it is a 
language that is spoken in the home, a first language.
    "Last Friday, in front of the entire student body, the two sixth grade 
boys addressed their peers in their native language.  In an assembly meshing Red 
Ribbon Week and the culmination of Native American Week, both boys took to 
the stage to introduce themselves in their native Crow language.  They gave 
their Apsa'alooke names, their clan affiliations and what their interests are, for 
all of the student body to hear.
    "Singer, because of his fluency and age, was part of the history project 
with the Western Heritage Center in Billings, and was invited to speak there 
in his native tongue....
    "At the forefront of awareness during the week, was the noticeable 
decline of Crow youth who are fluent in their tribal language.  Many, if not most of 
the Crow students can understand Crow or have the gist, but the majority of 
the response is given back in English."

There are a few other young speakers on the reservation, but not many.

Randy
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