Native Americas, the journal published by Akwe:kon Press of the American Indian Program at Cornell, is running a series of articles on native languages, said Leslie Logan, managing editor. The first article, in the spring issue, will look at efforts to preserve Pueblo, Blackfoot and native Hawaiian languages.
Logan, a Seneca, is herself involved in a language project for children 3 to 5 years old at the Tonawanda Seneca reservation of about 550 residents, located 25 miles west of Buffalo. Begun two years ago, the program involves one of the few fluent Seneca speakers on the reservation and several younger speakers who work with the children and their families. The Tonawanda Senecas are still in the evolutionary stages of developing a curriculum based on language immersion, as well as an effective evaluation component.
"Our language is at what is referred to as Stage 8 -- the most critical stage of language loss," Logan said. "We have roughly five people left who fluently speak the language and have known it as their first tongue."
She added, "The beauty of Tonawanda's program, which is funded by the community, is that it's just a small program aimed at young children, and it's family-centered, as well. The children who are part of the program are part of families who are very committed to seeing the language continue."
Logan's interest in the program is very personal. Not only is she learning to speak the traditional language, she hopes that her son, now 1 year old, will someday learn it, too. She already uses Seneca words in talking to him.
The program is being developed from scratch, said Logan, who has a background in special education and school psychology.
"Nothing exists" in the way of a formal curriculum for teaching native languages, she explained. The native speakers are not teachers. "We're rolling with it," she said as she described "putting the program into practice and creating materials and learning tools. This is a learning process for everyone involved."
Logan explained the importance of the work: "We come from an oral tradition. The Onondagas and Tonawandas are among the most traditional people of the Iroquois confederacy. They still do traditional ceremonies and duties; they have tried to remain true to them, but in order for those ceremonies to take place, people have to speak the language. These things are not just an indulgence and not at all for show. We need for these ceremonies to take place so we can continue to be the distinct people we've always been."
For many young people, including herself, the immediacy of the loss of elders and culture often doesn't become as critical until they have children of their own, Logan said. Now, even more than before, she is committed to making sure that the language and culture will be passed on to her son's generation.
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