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<DIV>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.</DIV>
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<DIV> "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.</DIV>
<DIV> "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.</DIV>
<DIV> "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....</DIV>
<DIV> "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."</DIV>
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<DIV>There are a few other young speakers on the reservation, but not many.</DIV>
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<DIV>Randy</DIV></BODY></HTML>