Athabaskan / Ket

[Susan Penfield]

Apologies for cross-posts...
**
*The Arctic Athabaskan Council and the Ket People of Siberian Russia Renew
Historic Contacts and Agree to Work Together    *

Whitehorse, Yukon, April 20, 2010

Danny Cresswell, Deputy Chief of the Carcross and Tagish First Nation
speaking on behalf of the Arctic Athabaskan Council (AAC), announced today
an historic meeting in Moscow of representatives of AAC and the Kets of
Siberian Russia. The languages spoken by the Ket and Athabaskan peoples
share striking similarities. Linguists are currently researching the
possibility that the languages are related.  Absolute proof of language
links would raise profound anthropological and genetic questions about the
ancient links and ties between Eurasia and North America.

The Ket people, numbering fewer than 2,000 according to official figures,
reside in settlements in the middle Yenisei river basin. Approximately 200
Kets still speak their ancient language. AAC’s delegation spent a day and a
half with Ket representatives Zoya Maksunova, Olya Peshkina and Galina
Nikolayeva. AAC’s delegation included Doug Hitch, a linguist in the Yukon
Native Language Centre, Cindy Dickson, AAC Executive Director, Colleen
Henry, AAC Projects Coordinator and Terry Fenge, AAC Advisor.

Ms. Dickson, a member of the Gwich’in Nation in northern Yukon, said “The
Kets told us this was the first time they had met representatives of North
American Athabaskan peoples. They are very excited about the possibilities
of working with us and want to organize cultural exchanges. They also want
to promote research on the linguistic and other connections between us.” She
added, “They are very concerned for their survival as a people and asked us
to help improve the diet and health of the 54 Ket children resident in their
villages. They want us to send multivitamins.  Of course we will respond”.

Doug Hitch recommended as a matter of urgency further linguistic work to
firmly establish the Athabaskan-Ket connection.  He made a promising start
in recording Ket language material with Zoya Maksunova, a fluent speaker and
teacher, who showed great enthusiasm in developing teaching and learning
materials for her language similar to those already available for Yukon
languages. Mr. Hitch noted that the sound files would eventually be posted
on the web site of the Yukon Native Language Centre. He concluded, “It would
be wonderful to continue collaboration on this beautiful language”.

Edward Vajda of Western Washington University in the United States has
undertaken extensive research into these linguistic connections.
Insightfully he has written:

            Who would have imagined the ancient words Native American and
Siberian             boarding-school children were punished for speaking a
few decades ago could wield a power vast enough to reunite entire
continents?

Noting the growing interest worldwide in the circumpolar Arctic, Mr.
Cresswell said “the connection between the Ket and Athabaskan peoples is
hugely important. Upon this base we can build cultural, economic and perhaps
political links.”





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**********************************************************************************************
Susan D. Penfield, Ph.D.
(Currently on leave to the National Science Foundation.
E-mail: spenfiel at nsf.gov
Phone at NSF: 703-292-4535)


Department of English (Primary)
Faculty affiliate in Linguistics, Language, Reading and Culture,
Second Language Acquisition and Teaching (SLAT),
American Indian Language Development Institute (AILDI)
The Southwest Center
University of Arizona,
Tucson, Arizona 85721
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