Teaching Oregon Native Languages

Acknowledgements

vi Acknowledgements This book grew out of an interest group at Oregon State University that came together out of a common concern with Native languages in the state of Oregon. Joseph Krause andArmelle Hofer were important members of this group, along with Joan Gross, Deanna Kingston, and Juan Trujillo. Allison Davis-White Eyes in the Indian Education office was always there for support. We had been approached by Myra Johnson, director of the Warm Springs language program, and later by Stephanie Ohles of the Klamath Tribes language program, for help with teaching methodology. Together we put on two conferences entitled “Speaking to the Seventh Generation” in 2002 and 2003, with the help of the departments of Anthropology and Foreign Languages and the generous funding of Spirit Mountain Community Fund. In so doing, we got to know Native language workers in the state and were able to provide a forum in which they could interact with Native scholars of language revitalization (Stephen Greymorning, Phil Cash Cash, Ofelia Zepeda and Kathy Sikorski) as well as a well-known native archivist (Alyce Sadongei) and the actress Lucy Tulugarjuk, who presented the prize-winning Inuit-language film, The Fast Runner. Through these interactions, we came to know of the possibilities for Native languages and also the obstacles to maintaining strong Native language programs in the state. One of the obstacles is the lack of knowledge concerning Native American languages and the revitalization movement in the state, and so the idea for this book was born. Four students helped the editor with the interviews that were conducted on reservations around the state in the spring and summer of 2004 and their subsequent transcription: Erin Haynes, Emily Riley, Katora Ruiz, and Fidelia Twenge-Jinings. Haines and Twenge-Jinings have continued working with Oregon languages in their graduate studies at UC Berkeley and Portland State University respectively. Riley has assisted with a variety of tasks associated with putting this book together: printing, mailing, formatting, etc. This book would not have been possible without the numerous people working in Native language programs and studying Native languages who took the time to answer our questions and help us understand the delights and the challenges in learning and teaching these precious languages. We list most of their names below. Others who were equally generous with their time preferred that their names not be used and we have respected their wishes. vii Manny P. Calapoo, Anna Clements, Kathy Cole, Karen Crutcher, R. Jane Crutcher, Rose Curtis, Andrew Dave, Randolph “Bobby” David, Judith Fernandez, Jimmy Freeman, Evan Gardner, Janice George-Hill, Jerry Hall, Fred Hill, Derek Hinkey, David Hinkey, Jackie Jackson, Wendell Jim, Myra Johnson, Radine Johnson, Rosie Johnson, Tony Johnson, Karla Kalama, Ruth Lewis, Bobbie Mercier, Adeline Miller, Patricia Miller, Malissa Minthorn, Tina Montoya, Thomas Morning Owl, Gloria Muñiz, Jess Nowland, Stephanie Ohles, Mildred Quaempts, Inez Reeves, Leslie Riggs, Arlita Rhoan, Noel Rude, Louis Scott, Willy Sigo, Randee Sheppard, Lawrence J. Squiemphen, Jhanna Stutzman-Fry, Tim Thornes, Gilbert Towner, Shirley Tufti, Phyllis Walker, Sonny Warren Ryan and Dallas Winishut It goes without saying that we thank our families for their understanding while we worked on our respective parts of this book. Gross wants to especially thank her son, Stanley, who accompanied the interviewing team when he was thirteen, and was complimented on being a very good listener. ...