MIIMAWÍT: OUR WAYS, OUR LANGUAGE, OUR CHILDREN, OUR LAND
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Date
2022-10-26
Authors
Sutterlict, Gregory
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Oregon
Abstract
Shix̱ páchway, ink nash waníksha Twálatin My name is Twálatin (Gregory) Sutterlict and I am Yakama and Chehalis. I am a language activist. I started this by speaking in Ichishkíin (the Yakama language) and, unfortunately, this language is endangered. This dissertation is focused on Ichishkíin language revitalization and preservation and gaining an understanding of how to start a Yakama School, Miimáwit Immersion School. This school will hold Yakama ways of life as its core and will teach using Ichishkíin only. The plan is, as you read, you will learn a little about the Yakama Nation, the Yakama people, and the situation that the Ichishkíin language is in and why. We look at literature that discusses some of the issues that have caused language endangerment such as: boarding schools, erasure, marginalization, etc. We also look at literature that discusses how Indigenous people are striving for language revitalization, tribal sovereignty, and self-determination through education and immersion schools. We take an in-depth look at some of these Immersion schools to see how they were started, what type of school they are, what material is taught, how much of their traditional ways of life are taught, how much, if any, English is taught, and what the people think about their school.
I conducted a survey collaboratively through which we learn what parents/caretakers of Yakama children have to say about their children’s education. I analyze responses through the lens of nine Yakama virtues identified by one of our treasured elders (Wilkins, 2008). I also collaborated to collect narratives through community conversations with 1) a Yakama elder, 2) parent/caretakers of Yakama children, and 3) a representative from an Indigenous Immersion to learn more about how we might shape an immersion school of our own. Four themes surfaced to guide my presentation of these conversations: Ichishkíin Language Revitalization, Yakama Self-Determination, Spirituality and Prayer, and Love. These themes and voices provide a foundation for us to start building towards Miimawít Immersion School.
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Keywords
Ichishkiin, immersion, Sahaptin, Yakama