Celebrate Native Languages and Cultures (fwd)

[phil cash cash]

Celebrate Native Languages and Cultures
Seventh annual "Celebration of Indian Languages and Cultures" planned

NORMAN OK
Jennifer Tedlock 10/19/2004
http://www.nativetimes.com/index.asp?action=displayarticle&article_id=5341

All of these [Native American] languages are endangered, said Alice
Anderton, Executive Director of the Intertribal Wordpath Society. Time
is running out.

We still have about 25 languages spoken here in Oklahoma, Anderton told
the Native American Times. That is why IWS's work is so important. All
of the languages are considered endangered. Without careful
preservation they will disappear as will the cultures they are so
deeply connected with.

The seventh annual Celebration of Indian Language and Culture will be
held on Friday, October 22 in Norman, Oklahoma. The celebration is set
to take place from 4:30 to 10:30 p.m. at the Cleveland County
Fairgrounds.

It is an opportunity to hear some of Oklahoma's Native languages, listen
so Native songs, and buy genuine Native goods. This event is not about
mourning the loss of traditional languages, but rather about
celebrating the remaining ones.

Margaret Mauldin, who helped create a Creek dictionary and developed the
curriculum for teaching the language at the University of Oklahoma,
will lead a workshop on making children's books in Native American
languages. That event will kick things off on Friday, October 22.

The main program, featuring stories, songs and poetry in a selection of
Native languages from around the state, will begin at 6 p.m. English
translations will be provided, as will commentary about the importance
of each language to its culture.

Durbin Feeling (Cherokee) will emcee the event, announcing the program
in both Cherokee and English. Presenters include Mogre Lookout (Osage)
of Pawhuska, Henry Leib (Ponca) and students from Red Rock, Gus Palmer,
Jr. (Kiowa) of Norman, Geneva Navarro (Comanche) of Lawton, University
of Oklahoma instructors LeRoy Sealy and Brenda Samuels (Choctaw) and
students, and Lahoma Burd (Kickapoo). Evans Ray Satepauhoodle (Kiowa)
of Hominy will sing Kiowa songs at the drum.

At around mid-evening, a dramatic ceremony of commitment to honor
Oklahoma languages will be held. This ceremony celebrates the languages
that still exist. Candles for each of those 25 languages will be lit in
what Anderton called a powerful and moving ceremony.

The Intertribal Wordpath Society was created in 1996 and incorporated
the following year. According to their website, IWS assists Oklahoma
language preservation with: fund raising, public speaking, a television
show  Wordpath, Pathways newletter, exhibits and educational programs
for the general public, production of language-related items,
information archives, teacher training and publications, workshops,
demonstration projects, advice on alphabets, materials and curricula,
and their annual Celebration.

To find out more about the Celebration of Indian Language and Culture,
visit www.ahalenia.com/iws. Cleveland County Fairgrounds are located at
615 E. Robinson in Norman.