NORMAN, Okla. – Students of Native American languages from preschool to high school age are encouraged to enter the 10th annual Oklahoma Native American Youth Language Fair, scheduled for Monday and Tuesday, April 2 and 3, at the Sam Noble Museum in Norman. Participants in grades pre-K through 12 will demonstrate their language skills as groups or individuals in the spoken language and language in song categories.
Other competition categories include poster art and book categories, open to grades three through 12; language with PowerPoint presentation and film/video categories, both open to sixth- through 12th-graders; a language advocacy essay category, open to grades nine through 12; and a language masters performance category for grades nine through 12, designed to showcase the language skills of students who have grown up speaking a Native American language. A new category for 2012 is poetry writing and performance; it is open to all ages. Registration deadline is March 12.
The competition draws more than 600 participants from across Oklahoma as well as neighboring states competing in as many as 27 Native American languages. Pre-K through fifth-grade competitions will take place on Monday, April 2; sixth- through 12th-grade competitions are set for Tuesday, April 3. The top three award-winners in each age group and category will receive a trophy that can be displayed at their school or tribal center. Every student who participates will receive a medallion and Language Fair T-shirt. For the 10th anniversary, every student also will receive a 2012 calendar with poster art for the last 10 years in addition to other language prizes. Fair participants will be honored at the state capitol on Monday, April 9, and all students and programs are invited to attend.
A panel of elders and teachers from several different tribes will judge the spoken language and language in song competitions. Native artists will judge the posters based on creativity and use of this year’s theme, “Language in My Heart.” In addition, Native authors will judge the book and poetry competitions.
To register and for additional information, visit http://nal.snomnh.ou.edu/onaylf. Deadline for registration is Monday, March 12. PowerPoint presentations, films, books, poetry, and poster entries must be received by March 16. No late entries will be accepted.
To have forms sent by mail, or for additional information, participants may contact the museum’s Native American Languages department at (405) 325-7588 or by email at
The Sam Noble Museum is located on the University of Oklahoma Norman campus at Timberdell Road and Chautauqua Avenue. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 1 to 5 p.m. on Sunday. Admission is $5 for adults, $4 for seniors 65 and up, and $3 for youth ages 6 to 17. Children ages 5 and under are free. Discounts are available for military personnel and their immediate families. There is no additional admission fee to see Warrior Spirits.
For more information about the museum, call (405) 325-4712, or visit the museum’s website at www.snomnh.ou.edu.