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Preserving Culture Through Revival of Native Languages

Jefferson Greene
Traditional knowledge that is passed down from the elders of Native communities is a vital asset to the urban/rural revitalization of Native cultures. Studies have shown that there is a positive impact on healing through arts. Community engaged art programs also contribute to urban/rural revitalization, improve cognitive skills in children, and promote well-being for the elderly.

As part of its mission, the Native Arts and Cultures Foundation (NACF) collaborates with Native artists and organizations who are committed to increasing awareness and appreciation of Native arts and culture in a variety of art disciplines. This past year, NACF partnered with the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs as part of the Native Nation Partnerships (NNP) project awards. This program was designed to increase community collaboration on Native homelands while nurturing arts and traditions that reinforce connections within the Native community.

"Thanks to the grant award, our community now consists of more advocates and students who consistently request phrases and words to include in their language journey and strengthening their sense of identity," says Jefferson Greene, artist and educator with the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs.

Scene from a Language Arts and Culture Movement encounter at Warm Springs

The NNP project awards are part of NACF’s Community Inspiration Program (CIP) that recognizes both urban and rural Native artists and arts organizations that impact communities through positive change. The Language Arts and Culture Movement implemented by the Culture, Language & Identity Project within the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs supports Native artists who work with and encourage youth and adults throughout the Columbia Plateau region to incorporate the Ichishkín (Sahaptin) language in cultural arts projects.

The Language Arts and Culture Movement provided several opportunities for community engagement with activities designed to create awareness about language among the Yakima, Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, and Umatilla tribes. Activities included gathering Tule reeds – an essential cultural plant to the Plateau people of the Northwest used to make mats for everyday and ceremonial purposes – and gathering cedar boughs for building sweat houses. Additional activities involved cultural arts and language classes that culminated in the annual Canoe Journey where students distributed gifts they made to hosting tribes and nations. The program also extended to teaching non-native students in Oregon public schools about Oregon Native identity with in-class language crafting classes.

Participants of the Language Arts and Culture Movement not only learned the importance of preserving Ichishkín, but they also learned that their Native language is integral to everything. With NACF support, the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs was able to create cultural experiences that were impactful, and strengthened their community. Project organizers created a sense of place by teaching the creation story and incorporating oral history through the use of the Ichishkín language in art and cultural activities.

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