flex your info

Native languages have long been endangered by a combination of urbanization and modernization, as well as past governmental policies of removal, relocation, and termination of native populations. In the past, the United States Bureau of Indian Affairs discouraged tribes from practicing their language and ceremonies in an attempt to assimilate them into non-Native society.  However, recent years have seen a renewed interest in reclaiming and preserving indigenous knowledge, including native languages.

Today’s technology is such that you can easily record information and make long-distance contact with others, so it seems as if it should be easy to record, preserve, and make available native language information.  However, there are a number of other concerns which must be balanced with the urge to preserve language through recordings, primarily issues around ownership and access.  Language is closely tied to culture; even if tribal members don’t use their language day-to-day, they probably use in their ceremonies. Language and ceremonies may only be shared with certain people: sometimes with all members of the tribe, other times with only a select few. There may be people who are protectors of knowledge, language or otherwise.  It’s important to make sure that programs created to record and preserve languages are sensitive to these issues.

Another issue to be considered is misappropriation or exploitation of this information.  Indeed, some tribal elders have chosen to not share their knowledge with non-tribal members; by recording it, the chance that an outsider will access the information increases. Not recording such information allows tribal members to retain control over their cultural information. Another way to maintain control is to closely involve tribal members and elders in the design and creation of preservation programs.  As more Natives become involved in the work to preserve their languages, they inform the protocols and practices used to collect and make available information. Whether a tribe decides to record and preserve language or to continue to share it only with tribal members orally, their positions must be respected.

There are a number of programs today in which tribes are recording and disseminating language.  A number of tribes have begun immersion programs, teaching their language to children from an early age.  There are also classes for adults, who can then speak the language at home with their children.  It’s also important to consider ways in which technology can be used to further learning of native languages.

The Cherokee Phoenix recently had an article about a Cherokee language application for the iPhone. The application includes flashcards, recordings, and games for language learning, and there is also a version for the Nintendo DS.  The idea of using popular technology to help preserve and revitalize languages is exciting, because it makes language information available to all tribal members, not just those who live near tribal lands, and in a way that can be easily integrated into their lives.

According to the census, about one-third of American Indians and Alaska Natives live in tribal areas, such as reservations or other tribal grounds, meaning the remainder live away from tribal lands.  This may be because they have moved away to pursue education or job opportunities, or perhaps their families were previously removed from tribal lands and forced to move elsewhere. For many who don’t live near their tribal lands (myself included), it can be difficult to keep in touch culturally, and to be involved.  My tribe makes an effort to keep tribal members in the loop through a monthly newsletter, but the fact of the matter is that I don’t live near many other tribal members. My main opportunity to spend time with them is traveling back for our annual pow-wow each year., although technology provides the opportunity for us to keep in touch throughout the year. Technology can be put to even better uses: cultural revitalization and preservation.

The use of technology, such as the Cherokee language iPhone application, can help dispersed tribal members to learn their tribe’s language. Software can be used to create multimedia teaching materials for lessons, while web conferencing technology can be used for teaching and for oral practice with other speakers.  However, such programs must be sensitive to the issues of control and access by closely involving tribal members and elders, and respecting their wishes.

Thornton Media, the developer of the Cherokee language application, is a Native-owned company striving to help tribes save their languages by allowing them to reach out, through technology, to tribal members that live outside their tribal lands.  In combination with language immersion and language classes, hopefully this technology can help with language revitalization.

The image in this post is The Shawnee Sun, the first Indian-language periodical published in the United States.  Some day, I hope to be able to read it.