Language Revitalization at Tribal Colleges and Universities: Overviews, Perspectives, and Profiles, 1993-2018

by Bradley Shreve (Editor), Richard Littlebear (Foreword by)

Overview

Since the founding of the first tribal colleges over 50 years ago, language revitalization has been an integral part of every tribal college or university’s mission. This new edited volume compiles an array of articles, essays, reports, and speeches that showcase the great efforts being made to preserve, protect, and revitalize Indigenous languages at tribal colleges across the United States. The first book of its kind, Language Revitalization at Tribal Colleges and Universities offers a chronological overview of preservation and revitalization efforts, revealing how programming and thinking have evolved over the past 25 years.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780984547234
Publisher:	Tribal College Press
Publication date:	10/14/2019
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	232
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.53(d)

About the Author

Bradley Shreve, PhD, taught history and served as the chair of social and behavioral sciences at Diné College, America's first tribal college. Currently, he serves as the managing editor of Tribal College: Journal of American Indian Higher Education, the quarterly publication of the American Indian Higher Education Consortium.

Richard Littlebear, EdD (Northern Cheyenne), is the president of Chief Dull Knife College, the tribal college of the Northern Cheyenne in Montana.

Table of Contents

FOREWORD by Richard Littlebear

INTRODUCTION

OVERVIEWS

New Voices, Ancient Words: Language Immersion Produces Fluent Speakers, Stronger Personal and Cultural Identities by Janine Pease

Native Languages and Tribally Controlled Colleges: Giving Voice to Native Nations by Paul Boyer

More than Words, A Way of Life: Language Restoration Programs Reach Beyond Tribal Colleges and Universities by Laura Paskus

VOICES

Finding a Place for Navajo: English Must Be Restricted if the Navajo Language Is to Survive by Clay Slate

To Save Our Languages, We Must Change Our Teaching Methods by Richard Littlebear

Who Will Teach My Great-Great Grandchildren Dakotah? by Tammy Eastman DeCoteau

One Man, Two Languages: Confessions of a Freedom-Loving Bilingual by Richard Littlebear

“We Are Resilient, and We Are Succeeding”: A Statement before the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs by Thomas Shortbull

“To Revitalize Our Languages, We Must Work at All Levels”: A Statement before the U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs by Clarena M. Brockie

Native Languages Preserve Our Way of Thinking and Knowing by Richard B. Williams

PROGRAM PROFILES

Learning Lodge Institute: Montana Colleges Empower Cultures to Save Languages by Paul Boyer

Rekindling the Anishnabe Language Fires at Bay Mills by Jennifer Dale

Using Blackfoot Language to Rediscover Who We Are by Duane Mistaken Chief Sr.

Little Priest Immerses Students in Language

Giving Voice to Crow Country: The Crow Place Name Project by Carrie Moran McCleary

Back from the Brink: Innovative Language Program Involves Three Generations by Ron Selden

Teasing Aside: Little Big Horn College Maintains Crow Language, Culture by Luella Brien

Language of the People Forever: Bay Mills Spins Thread Tying Ojibwa Communities Together by Brenda Austin

Firing Up White Clay: Immersion School Students Encouraged to Return, Give Back by Kurt Umbhau

Ojibwemotaadidaa: Preparing a New Generation of Fluent Speakers by Persia Erdrich

Louis Soop and Language Restoration at Red Crow Community College by Mary Weasel Fat

Blackfeet Community College Develops Montana’s First Native Language App

Ilisagvik Offers Language Nest Program by Devin H. Bates

Lakota Documentaries: Working with Cultural Heritage at a Tribal University by Jurgita Antoine

A Rebirth for the Lakota Language: Institute Hopes to Create a New Generation of Speakers by Christopher Vondracek

RESEARCH

Native American Language Immersion: Innovative Native Education for Children and Families by Janine Pease

Editorial Reviews

"Our Native languages tell the story of who we are as Indigenous peoples. Our languages express our relationships and our understanding of creation. The vision of the founders of the tribal college movement was restoration of our languages so we could be more fully who we are as tribal people. This collection of essays and research articles, Language Revitalization at Tribal Colleges and Universities, celebrates that vision and honors the diligent and intentional work of tribal educators to make that vision come to life. It is a collection of our stories and a wonderful reminder of our success."

—Cheryl Crazy Bull (Sicangu Lakota) is the president and CEO of the American Indian College Fund.

"For fifty years tribal colleges have been in the forefront of improving living conditions on Indian nations. The new e-book Language Revitalization at Tribal Colleges and Universities published by Tribal College Journal examines the leading role tribal colleges are taking in tribal language revitalization efforts that build stronger tribal communities. It includes the voices of tribal college leaders active in language revitalization efforts and profiles language programs for younger learners and tribal college students. As Tom Raymond, Oglala Lakota College’s dean of education, writes, “You don’t just learn a language, you learn a way of living.” Janine Pease, a former president of Little Big Horn College, notes, “As students study their Native language and culture, they develop stronger identities and knowledge of their individual roles in their culture and family.” Tribal College Journal’s new book documents how through classes, immersion schools and camps, tribal colleges are working to strengthen the fabric of tribal communities by restoring traditional values embedded in their Native languages, such as respect, generosity, and humility. Tribal College Journal is to be commended for sharing in this new book the efforts of leading tribal educators who are working to improve the life of their people."

—Jon Reyhner, professor of education, coordinator of the Bilingual Multicultural Education Program at Northern Arizona University, and author of Education and Language Restoration; Language & Literacy Teaching for Indigenous Education: A Bilingual Approach; and American Indian Education: A History

From the Publisher