Uvlaallautaq!

The survival of the Inuit people depends on the survival of the language. When people meet Inuit, they are disappointed if they cannot show their knowledge of Inuit ways … If the Inuit themselves don’t use their language more, it will be forgotten, and very soon the Inuit too will be a forgotten people …

There are only very few Inuit, but millions of whites, just like mosquitoes. It is something very special and wonderful to be an Inuk – they are like the snow geese. If an Inuk forgets his language and Inuit ways, he will be nothing but just another mosquito.

Abraham Okpik, 1962

Indigenous Living Languages Schedule (Spring Term 2009)

Weekly meetings are held every Saturday at 12noon at the NAH, 35 North Main Street

Each group member will make a short 5-7 minute presentation on an issue relating to language (i.e. language and culture, language status, language policy and planning, language revitalization, language, society, government & religion, etc)

April 18: Navajo language learning tools and games (Jeremiah Watchman)

April 25: Group discussion on films as language resources; language movie commentary; setting phrases to melodies (tools for language learners). Visitor: Ada Deer.

May 3: *Date/Time Change* (Originally May 2) Overview of Alaska Native languages and status of languages; commentary for op-ed being developed (Tim Argetsinger and Anna Edwardson)

May 4: *SPECIAL* Linguistics and Native languages (in preparation for Canadian anthropology lecture)—led by Nacole Walker and Dewey Hoffman

May 9: Native Americans at Dartmouth Pow Wow weekend; roundtable discussion on language at work (things that are actually working) with Native alumni and current students

May 16: Green Key Weekend (meeting pending)

May 23: Language philosophies and resiliency (Liz Sumida Huaman and Tim Argetsinger)

SPECIAL EVENTS: Language and Native Foods Dinner at NAH TBA

Spring 2009 Core Group Priorities

a. Find a way to bring back information shared and what is “working” to our own communities

b. Structure language group meetings with relevant weekly discussion topics; long-term goals may include College COSO recognition and/or national links

c. PowerPoint presentations from group members

d. Impact policy; co-author op-ed pieces or journal articles

e. Represent Dartmouth and Native student work at national and international conferences; create PR materials

f. Examine written language texts; critique and collaborate

g. Connect language efforts with practical activities (i.e. Occom Pond Singers) and visible reminders of language (“Welcome” in all languages posted at NAH)