First Indian sign language conference in 80 years will be held in August (fwd link)

[Phillip E Cash Cash]

First Indian sign language conference in 80 years will be held in August

By Pam Hughes, Today correspondent
Story Published: Aug 6, 2010
USA

LAME DEER, Mt. – Representatives from seven tribes will convene on the
Northern Cheyenne Reservation Aug. 12 – 15 for the first hand talkers’
conference held since 1930.

The conference is an important part of a National Science Foundation funded
project led by Dr. Jeffrey Davis of the University of Tennessee, Dr. Melanie
McKay-Cody (Chickamauga Cherokee/Choctaw) of William Woods University and
James Woodenlegs (Northern Cheyenne) to document hand talkers from Northern
Cheyenne, Assiniboine, Sioux, Crow, and several other tribes.

The mission is to preserve Indian Sign Language through the cooperation of
sign language linguists with deaf and hearing members of the North American
Indian signing communities through research, video recording and a
dictionary.

The conference is more than a research vehicle. The videotapes will be
gifted to the communities, according to McKay-Cody, who attended the
Oklahoma School for the Deaf and the University of Arizona. Tribal
representatives will discuss their respective communities’ plans for their
signing languages.

Access full article below:
http://www.indiancountrytoday.com/national/First-Indian-sign-language-conference-in-80-years-will-be-held-in-August-100131734.html
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