PRESERVING LANGUAGE

[Andre Cramblit]

http://oregonmag.com/FDNatLang606.html

June 2006
Tribal Program Preserves Native Language, Culture

                             By Fred Delkin

Editor's Note:  In 2001 Oregon Magazine published an editorial  
criticizing a Umatilla Reservation program to teach tribal  
schoolchildren  their native language, stating that this effort  
sidestepped the English language skills these students need for their  
economic future.  This misguided opinion piece was labeled "racist"  
by a tribal spokesperson.  The following describes this program that  
has obvious cultural worth.

The Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Reservation have combined  
both private foundation and federal funds to establish a master- 
apprentice Language Preservation program in the tribal Nixyaawii  
community school serving grades 9-12 on the reservation just east of  
Pendleton in northeastern Oregon.

This three-year project partners students with tribal elders still  
speaking native languages.  At project's end dthe apprentices are  
eligible for licensure by the tribe and the state of Oregon's Teacher  
Standards and Practices Commission as teachers of Cayuse/Nez Perce,  
Umatilla and Walla Walla languages.

The Umatilla reservation was established  in 1855 by treaty and was  
united by a single tribal government in 1949.  There are currently  
2,525 enrolled tribal members and a reservation of 158,000 acres.

We salute tribal chairman Albert Minthorn for his direction of an  
outstanding effort to maintain tribal heritage.  This includes a just- 
concluded Culture Camp May 15-19 for 40 Nixyaawii students learning  
traditional tribal values.  An "Entrepeneur Workshop" has guided  
students in specific techniques for starting a business..."strategies  
for maximizing personal satisfaction and profits."  June 15-22 16  
students will participate in "journeys in creativity: explorations in  
Native Art & Culture."

Certainly the Confederated Umatilla tribes are dedicated to guiding  
their members into a bright future.


© 2006 Oregon Magazine
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