ANA Messenger - Language and Culture Edition - Winter 2016
ANA Messenger - Language and Culture Edition - Winter 2016 January 19, 2016
Features
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Grantee Highlights
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Getting to Know Us
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Past Grantee Highlights |
What We are Viewing
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The Dispatch
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ANA History
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Grantee Highlight
Cheyenne and Arapaho Living Language ProjectHow did your project come about? Who was instrumental in the development of the project? How did you address bringing together (synthesizing) ideas? Who are the key project staff members? Where is your project located? What Tribes/service are do you serve? What are your main project objectives/ goals of your project? How has your project benefited the community overall (impact)? What are your future plans to continue your efforts? What advice would you offer to someone planning or implementing a project similar to yours?
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Grantee Highlight
The Pueblo of Pojoaque Early Childhood Center Tewa Language Immersion Project
Once it was determined that the revitalization of the Tewa language in the Pojoaque Pueblo was a priority for the tribe, a one-year planning grant was developed and submitted to ANA. Following the receipt of a one-year planning grant, and during that planning year, a Tewa Language Advisory Committee was formed, and a plan was developed for the implementation of the project at the Pueblo’s early childhood center, where it was believed that the tribal youth would be most receptive to learning a (second) new language.
Who was instrumental in the development of the project? There were several “key” persons/entities who were instrumental in the development of the project. Firstly, there were the Tribal Officials, who made the discussions about the project a priority at the Tribal Council meetings. The Tribal Council was also key in passing tribal resolutions authorizing the submission of various grants to teach the language in the pueblo. There were also the Tribal Elders, who not only participated in those discussions, but who were able to share the stories and the importance of re-learning the language. There were the Tewa speakers (from Pojoaque and nearby Tewa-speaking pueblos), who had to be identified and recruited to help with the teaching of the language. There was also the Indigenous Language Institute, whose mission is to assist in revitalizing indigenous languages. There was the University of New Mexico Center for Language Studies, who helped develop curriculum and assessment tools. There was also the staff at the Early Childhood Center, who had to become “certified” to work with youth, as well as receive instruction from other language programs in order to teach the students. And finally, there was the Administration of Native Americans (ANA), who had to believe in and help with funding the initial stages of this (ongoing) project.
How did you address the “synthesis” of ideas? This was accomplished in a few different ways, along with simple “trial and error.” However, to aid in the process there were the ANA trainings and grantee meetings, where Best Practices in language development were shared and discussed, and specialized “break-out” sessions were held. There were also Tewa language conferences held by the Pueblo, where many of the neighboring Tewa-speaking pueblos came to share ideas and discuss ideas about teaching the language. This remains an ongoing practice. There was also the formation of a Tewa Language Committee here at the Pueblo, where ideas were shared and discussed. Finally, there were numerous meetings held between a Tewa Language Coordinator, the Education Director, Early Childhood Director, and the Pueblo’s Chief Grant Writer.
Who are the Key Project Staff members? Key project staff includes the Early Childhood Director, the Tewa Language Coordinator, the entire Tewa Teaching Staff (7 Tewa-speaking teachers), the Tewa Language Advisory Committee, and the Pueblo’s grant writer.
Where is the project located – what Tribes/area do you serve? The Tewa Language Project is located at the Early Childhood Center, 100 Lightning Loop Rd, Santa Fe, NM, 87506, which is located on Pojoaque Tribal lands, near to the Senior Center, Wellness Center. Although this project primarily serves the tribal youth at the Pueblo of Pojoaque, the Pueblo has now employed a Tewa-speaking Native from the Tesuque Pueblo to teach the language outside of the Pueblo to Pojoaque and other Tewa-speaking youth at six (6) different schools where graduates of the Early Childhood Center attend middle school and now, high school.
What are the main project objectives/goals of the project? The main project goals and objectives are to teach the language through not only scholastic methods, but through “experiential learning,” or experiences. Some of these experiential practices include traditional farming, cooking, celebrations, Feast days, traditional games, and regalia making. The next phase of this ongoing language project will focus on developing tools for in-home use, where “language nests” will be created to provide not only youth but families with learning tools that the entire family will participate in. Eventually, adult learning classes will be formed, and a teacher certification program will be developed, so that the students eventually become the teachers.
How has your project benefited the community overall? The project has brought a new “cultural enthusiasm” to the Pueblo, whereby lost cultural practices which were once commonplace in the Pueblo are being re-introduced and revived in the Pueblo. This has resulted in a renewed cultural pride, which is evident at traditional ceremonies, Feast Days, and throughout the Pueblo.
What are the future plans to continue your efforts? The Pueblo of Pojoaque is committed to revitalizing the Tewa language in the Pueblo. To that end, the Pueblo continues to develop plans and teaching tools to be used in the classroom, at home, and throughout the Pueblo community. At the governance level, policies are being discussed amongst the tribal Council that would make certain uses of the language mandatory at various times and locales.
What advice would you offer someone planning or implementing a project similar to yours? The key to having a successful program begins from the planning stages. A well thought out objective plan and set program goals will direct the program to huge success and achievement. The Pueblo of Pojoaque is committed to revitalizing the Tewa language back into their pueblo, and they have also shown tremendous support through all aspects which include at the various school levels where tribal youth attend, community member levels, and greatly through Tribal leadership. The best advice would be commitment. Once commitment is gained, there should be no reason for unsuccessful planning or implementing a project similar to ours.
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Past Grantee Highlight
Salish School of Spokane
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Past Grantee Highlight
Turtle Island Language Program
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Getting To Know Us
Tom Dannan
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Getting to Know Us
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Getting To Know Us
Kristen Pratt
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Getting to Know Us
Frank Rojas
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Bulletin Board
The deadline for health coverage is near for Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders. Visit the Health Care (ACA) site to get covered. American Indians and Alaskan Natives can use the Native One Stop portal for information on all federal resources. Interested in helping ANA select new grantees? Visit our website to learn about panel review. It pays to be a grant reviewer. /programs/ana/grants/ana-objective-panel-review
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ANA History with Thomas and Dan
ANA History with Thomas and Dan
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ANA History
ANA Timeline |
What We Are Viewing
Rising Voices: Revitalizing the Lakota Language
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