Blue Sky People
AN INTERVIEW WITH AN ARAPAHO ELDER
Senior Citizen of an Arapaho Tribe
Reservation: Wind River Indian Reservation, Wyoming
Tell me about yourself.
My name is Laura Shakespear from the Wind River Indian Reservation in Wyoming. I am 62 years old, I am married and have 5 children. I grew up on the reservation. My family spoke the language. I spoke only Arapaho until I started school at a Catholic School at the age of five. At school, I was not allowed to speak my language or I would get punished; however, when I went home the Arapaho language was spoken every day by my family members. There was no fear to speak at home.
Tell me about the language situation on your reservation?
Out of the 6,000 people about 20% are fluent to semi-fluent speakers. Most of the speakers are from the 60 years old or older range. The population from 50 years old to 60 years old can understand the language, but do not speak fluently. The rest of the population do not speak or understand the language, except for a few monophrases.
What are you doing now about the language?
I presently work at the Arapaho Language Lodge. We are teaching children ages 2 years to 5 years old. The staff includes myself, an 70 year old fluent speaker, and a 48 year old student of the language. Presently, the staff makes and produces its own curriculum.
The objective of the Arapaho Language Lodge is to immerse the children in the language. We strive to have a full immersion program. At the present time we have not reached our goal.
Why is it important for you to teach these young children?
The children are quick learners. I also feel that it is important to teach the language to our people because "it is part of their identity, and there is a void in young people's lives if they don't have the language". It also gives our people a sense of pride. Our culture and our rituals need to be passed on to our young people. This is best done in the Arapaho language.
What can be done to save your language?
*develop applicable curriculum
*gather elders, community members to strategize about the survival of the language
*have more parental involvement
*involve more fluent speakers
*develop a good language program
*make the political leaders aware of the urgency of reviving this "dying language"
Is there anything else you want for the language?
I would like to have more people to know about our language. I also, plead with the speakers of the language to help us out. We cannot teach an entire language on our own. There is a need for speakers to come into the classroom and help, or speak to the young children when they see them. There is also a need to gather and meet and work together to revive our language.