WEATHERFORD, Okla. – Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribal College President, Dr. Henrietta Mann, quietly speaks the words,
“The Tsistsistas and Hinonoei (Cheyenne and Arapaho) have strong spiritual traditions, traditions which require some knowledge of the language. Language is requisite for culture and culture is requisite for language. Culture and language cannot exist independently without each other … making it urgent for us to maintain our languages and pass them on to the next generation.”
In a collaborative partnership, tribal programs and the tribal college joined together to host a three-day language conference July 26-28, 2011 at the Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU) in Weatherford, Okla.
“Language serves as a bridge between the inner human landscape of the heart and mind and the exterior landscape of the world. Our ancestors breathed strength and spirits into each generation. They ever so thoughtfully threw their prayers out and over their descendants. Consequently, today’s generations are guided and protected by their prayers,” Mann said. “Close your eyes and imagine a serene place in the past of long ago … embrace the hope that our beloved grandparents held for today.”
Opening ceremonies began on Tuesday, July 26, 2011 with the bringing in of flags by the Oklahoma City VA Warriors Group and a song by the Red Moon Singers.
Arapaho Chief Moses Starr gave the blessing and Cheyenne and Arapaho Gov. Janice Boswell welcomed the guests.
Guest speakers, Dr. Richard Littlebear, President and Dean of Cultural Affairs at Chief Dull Knife College on the Northern Cheyenne Reservation in Montana and Dr. Marlin Spoonhunter, President of the Wind River Tribal College in Wyoming, Dean of Students at Browning High School in Browning, Montana and an elementary teacher shared their experience in their efforts to keep the Cheyenne and Arapaho languages alive.
Littlebear was born on the northern Cheyenne reservation and grew up in Busby, Montana. He holds degrees from Bethel College in Kansas and Montana State University and received his doctorate degree in education from Boston University in 1994.
Spoonhunter said he enjoys his family, participating in powwows across Indian country and enjoys learning the Arapaho language and working with his elders of his tribe.
“I believe that higher education is the key to success for our future generations. Knowing who we are and speaking our Arapaho language identifies us from every race in the world and I am proud to be a northern Arapaho,” Spoonhunter stated.
Workshops, youth and adult hands-on language activities, history lessons, bingo and cultural lessons as well as many other activities, took place over the three-day event.
Speaking to the attendees, Cheyenne and Arapaho Education Executive Director and member of the Language Advisory Board, outlined the details of the Language Advisory Board and their goals.
She stated the primary purpose of creating the Cheyenne and Arapaho Language Advisory Board was to provide guidance and advice on the direction the Cheyenne and Arapaho Language Programs should take to ensure the non-speaking tribal members learn to speak their Cheyenne and/or Arapaho languages. She listed specific goals being the adoption of a long range language plan (five to ten years), adoption of a curriculum for the Cheyenne and Arapaho languages for head start and child development, K-4, 5-8, 9-12 grades and college level courses, utilizing technology to advance the presentation of the languages to tribal members, develop a language teachers certification program for the Cheyenne and Arapaho languages, determine which existing Orthography to sue for the languages, to decide whether to include dialect(s) and to determine whether creating new vocabulary words for Cheyenne and Arapaho languages is necessary for future use of language (i.e. IPod, cell phones, computers, etc.)
Sponsors for the language conference include Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribal Historic Preservation office, Tribal College, the Executive office, Department of Education, Language program, Elder Care program, Office of Planning and Development, Culture and Heritage, the R.E.Sp.E.C.T. Program, Southwestern Oklahoma State University and Lucky Star Casino.
“Can you imagine the cheerful conversations in the lodges around the fire as our ancestors deliberated new words … words for horse (mo’ehe-no’ha) meaning domesticated elk or for different nationalities such as German (Ma’e-ve’ho’e) meaning red white man. What amusing and important work that was and still is today. You will be doing important work for these three days we are together … all of you are history makers, teachers, story tellers and students,” Mann said. “This gathering is an important event in the on-going history of the Cheyenne and Arapaho. I am so proud to be one of you and to be able to spend this time with you.”
Reprinted with kind permission of the Cheyenne & Arapaho Tribune