As elders pass, Wind River Indian Reservation teachers turn to technology to preserve Shoshone language (fwd link)

[Phillip E Cash Cash]

As elders pass, Wind River Indian Reservation teachers turn to technology
to preserve Shoshone language

County 10 News Desk | February 28, 2012
By Tetona Dunlap
USA

(Fort Washakie) — The Shoshone people, like most indigenous cultures,
traditionally passed on their language orally. Though Shoshone-speaking
Native American tribes inhabit several western states, the number of fluent
speakers has dwindled consistently over the past decades. Some experts
estimate there may be less than a few hundred fluent speakers of the
language alive today. A survey of fluency was conducted last year of
Eastern Shoshone tribal members ages 50 to 100 years old. Out of a total of
844 people who fit these age categories, only 103 identified themselves as
fluent and 106 were proficient or had limited understanding of the language.

Every year these elders pass away, taking with them a wealth of knowledge
about the language.

In an effort to combat these decreasing numbers and preserve the Shoshone
language, Eastern Shoshone tribal members on the Wind River Indian
Reservation in Wyoming are combining technology with tradition to help save
the language.

Access full article below:
http://county10.com/2012/02/28/as-elders-pass-wind-river-indian-reservation-teachers-turn-to-technology-to-preserve-shoshone-language/
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