Kooch=?UTF-8?Q?=E2=80=99eit=E2=80=99aa=3A_?=Teaching the Tlingit language through basketball

[Phil Cash Cash]

*Kooch’eit’aa: Teaching the Tlingit language through basketball*

*By **Casey Kelly* <http://www.ktoo.org/author/caseyk/>

*Posted on August 10, 2014 at 6:00 am*

Earlier this year, Alaska became the second state after Hawaii to recognize
indigenous languages as official state languages
<http://www.ktoo.org/2014/04/21/alaska-native-languages-bill-passes-15-hour-sit/>
.

The legislature passed a bill granting the designation to 20 Alaska Native
languages
<http://www.legis.state.ak.us/basis/get_bill.asp?bill=HB%20216&session=28>.
Gov. Sean Parnell is expected to sign the measure soon. Supporters hope it
will help boost efforts to revitalize those languages, many of which have
just a handful of native speakers left. One such effort took place in
Juneau last week: A camp that’s using sport to keep the Tlingit language
alive.

http://www.ktoo.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/08Language.mp3
<http://ktoo.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/08Language.mp3>

On the basketball court at the University of Alaska Southeast in Juneau, a
dozen middle and high school students warm up for their first day of camp.
As they stretch near half court, Jessica Chester counts to 10 in Tlingit:
“Tléix’, déix, nás’k, daax’oon, keijín, tleidooshú, daxadooshú,
nas’gadooshú, gooshúk, jinkaat.”

Access media & full article below:
http://www.ktoo.org/2014/08/10/koocheitaa-teaching-tlingit-language-basketball/
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