The list of threatened languages includes almost all of the native american languages found in the pacific northwest. The endangered languages project, currently tracks seven active native languages across washington area, and all seven are listed as “severely endangered.” washington state is home to 29 federally recognized tribes and according to the 2010 census nearly 2% of the state’s population identifies as native american – putting the state in the top 10 across the country with the highest native american populations. (image courtesy burke museum.)

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It has only been in the past few decades that the U.S. Government has taken steps to stop the erasure. In 1990, congress passed the native american languages act, which directed the president and US government agencies to protect, preserve, and promote native american languages and their use.Cognitive learning refers to in 2006, the esther martinez native american languages preservation act passed, which funded native american languages immersion and restoration programs.Cognitive learning refers to

As more last-speakers have aged, many tribes across washington have embarked on decades-long projects to document and preserve their communities’ languages and stories using modern recording software.Cognitive learning refers to once recorded, the process of affirming spelling and definitions begins, often requiring a quorum of elders to agree for each word or phrase.Cognitive learning refers to

For example. The puyallup tribe is digitizing the twulshootseed language for use today. The twulshootseed language is a member of the lushootseed family and is the dialect of the tacoma region.Cognitive learning refers to similar to many other native american languages, the twulshootseed have sounds in their language that are difficult to represent using a normal latin alphabet keyboard.Cognitive learning refers to

The program developed a custom digital keyboard to allow their speakers the ability to not just see and read the language they are learning, but also to type in it.Cognitive learning refers to with a digital keyboard, someone can type a document or an email, send it to someone and the correct characters will show up for the recipient, even if the recipient doesn’t have that keyboard downloaded.Cognitive learning refers to

These “language-domains” include the process of creating self-narrations, an activity where one speaks twulshootseed out-loud narrating each step they take to complete everyday activities — like making coffee or brushing teeth.Cognitive learning refers to the activity not only helps speakers practice, it’s also helping reclaim language in actual day-to-day environments.

Today the puyallup language program offers 10 classes a quarter, showing the potential that virtual classrooms have for helping tribes connect with their increasingly dispersed populations.Cognitive learning refers to weaving technology with traditional storytelling elise, a participant in native girls code, and her family display their final robotic diorama displaying a scene from their kiowa family story about the devils tower in utah. (courtesy of na’ah illahee fund/native girls code.)

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While in the process of creating speakers, it’s also very important to keep the tradition of storytelling alive. Language revitalization is one step in the revival of culture.Cognitive learning refers to to be successful it should also include revitalization of cultural art and traditional storytelling, subjects often intertwined. The art and stories of every native community are different, but each represent a history contained within its words and symbols.Cognitive learning refers to almost all native american communities have employed storytelling to share wisdom and teach the next generation how to navigate their path on this earth.Cognitive learning refers to

While apps are helping bring these stories to an increasingly urban native population, a major factor lacking is the community to share them with.Cognitive learning refers to clubs like native girls code, bring together native teen and tween girls from across king county through the exploration of technology and traditional knowledge, are helping to combat this issue.Cognitive learning refers to

Since native girl code caters to urban native youth, many participants lack opportunities to connect with their homelands or cultures. This is a concern facing many native youths across the country.Cognitive learning refers to about 60% of native americans reside in urban areas. Many do not have opportunities to visit their ancestral homelands or participate in cultural activities.Cognitive learning refers to

“it’s important for urban kids to have a relationship with their indigenous identity,” peterson said. “with [native girls code] were not always focused on the western science, we’re also thinking about science in native cultural teachings and practices, like weaving and beading, or foods and medicines.Cognitive learning refers to this is a space where young women can be exposed to cultural things and make them feel good about being native women. Ultimately our goal is to build their confidence and help prepare them for the tech world that doesn’t look or think like them.”

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The families spent time with duwamish storyteller roger fernandes discussing the historical significance of traditional storytelling within native communities.Cognitive learning refers to next, he worked with the families to discuss and record their own traditional family stories. Together, the families created physical representations of a scene from their story, in the form of a robotic diorama.Cognitive learning refers to the native girls code participants were given a chance to show off their coding skills to bring the robotic dioramas of their family story scene to life.Cognitive learning refers to

That knowledge can help us connect with our natural world, which might be the key to helping us save it. University of washington’s climate impact group is already combining examples of indigenous knowledge with western science to create technical resources to assess climate impacts and responses for native communities and non-native communities alike.Cognitive learning refers to

Numerous studies, including those conducted by the national indian education association (NIEA) and the US department of education, show that native american/alaska native/native hawaiian students who are engaged in cultural learning practices have much better socio-emotional well being.Cognitive learning refers to with many across native country facing dire health and education statistics, the benefits of cultural immersion take on new meaning. Language revitalization has the potential to save the next generation, so for that reason alone we should embrace and encourage it as much as possible.Cognitive learning refers to