By Justin Neely, CPN Language Department Director
Bozho jayek (Hello everyone),
The language department just got back from the Potawatomi Language Conference and Gathering. Each staff member presented and did a great job. We also had a chance to listen to and network with staff from other Potawatomi language departments. Shelly Watson taught two classes and had so many in one class they had to move her to a bigger room. Everyone I talked to said our staff did a great job. Josey Wood taught children’s classes for the children’s language camp. I had the chance to teach at the children’s language camp and also at the main conference.
Shelly is going to be doing a six-week beginner class on-site at the Cultural Heritage Center from 5-7 p.m. starting Sept. 2 and every Tuesday for six weeks. Shelly does a great job teaching and designing her classes. She is also going to be teaching an online class starting Oct. 16 from 5-6:30 p.m. for four weeks. We are going to be playing Potawatomi language bingo on Oct. 21 from 5-7 p.m. at the Cultural Heritage Center. We should have food and prizes, so bring the whole family out. Look for more information in the near future about dates for an intermediate class and kids’ class.
We are also gearing up for our upcoming fall high school classes. Right now, we have 38 students across three different schools enrolled in the Potawatomi language course. We are looking forward to a good school year. In Oklahoma, we are able to offer the language in any school district. So instead of learning Spanish or French, students have the opportunity to take Potawatomi.
Our eight-week summer immersion class was very successful. We had a number of students who wanted to continue working with the language so we are continuing to work with anyone who would like on Wednesdays. If you are interested in participating, we would be happy to have you join us.
We also have several online learning opportunities. We are currently moving our content from my two YouTube channels to one maintained by the Hownikan. Search for Potawatomi language department and you should find these channels on YouTube. We also have a couple of different courses on learning.potawatomi.org. We have an online dictionary at potawatomidictionary.com. We also have two courses on Memrise at community-courses.memrise.com/dashboard. Finally, our newest course is on 7000 languages at 7000.org. Click on “Languages” and scroll down to “Potawatomi.” Click on “Potawatomi.” Then at the bottom click on “Sign up to learn.” Then either click on “Sign up” or “Login” to get started. This is based on rooms in a house and common words/phrases one uses in different areas, such as the kitchen, living room or bedroom, and then includes outside at a restaurant and doctor visit.
We also finished a new children’s book, “Wabozo yatsokan: a Rabbit Story.” It was done with some stories originally told by Jim and Alice Spears to Charles Hockett in the 1940s. Josey did the illustrations and did a great job. The story is in Potawatomi and English. We have a QR code in the book so you can hear the story read in Potawatomi.
We had a meeting with all the staff of each Potawatomi language department. The Gun Lake Tribe and Huron Potawatomi Tribe both talked about how members from other Potawatomi tribes were welcome to come and participate in cultural activities happening in their communities (activities such as Zisbaktokewen (making maple syrup), and gathering Menomen (wild rice).
We look forward to seeing you at our upcoming events.