Language: The Heart of Our Culture

Language: The Heart of Our Culture raises issues about the endangered status of Native American languages today. Highlighting the work of Tlingit linguists Nora and Richard Dauenhauer, this video explores different perspectives on the significance of speaking one's own Native American language today. Though language competency in many communities is endangered, in others fluency is strong. Examples include Tlingit, Diné (Navajo), and Pueblo languages (Hopi, Tewa, and Towa).
About the project:
Penn Museum's Native American Voices Video project, completed in 2011, was conducted over fourteen months with support from the Annenberg Foundation and Gregory Annenberg Weingarten. The project resulted in the creation of Postindian Warriors: Creating A New Consciousness in Native America, five short videos about contemporary Native America for inclusion in the long-term exhibition, Native American Voices: The People - Here and Now. Five 8 minute films were produced to highlight important themes that emerged from the discussions.

[@casperado666]

I love people who keep their cultures alive. Languages are treasures which are 1000s of years old. Greetings from Ukraine

[@ammyj5570]

This made me think how much a language can mean so many things. To me Language is our history, culture, how our stories were told. It's heartbreaking that this generation is losing something that makes them who they are. Thank you for the video.

[@alidahall8726]

I'm Canadian (from Manitoba ) I want to learn Cree and what ever other native language there is from the native tribes so I can help keep their history alive the native culture is beautiful

[@barbfrmsf]

May he rest in peace thanks for sharing your talent with us.

[@StudioNetcom]

And this video explain why in Quebec we fought for the French language and will always do. As soon as you stop speaking your language on a daily basis, you start losing it (through the generations)... I hope my fellow Canadian from the western provinces will finally understand how tight the relation between languages and cultures is. I'm talking about you JJ McCullough...

[@scarletred1497]

it's heartbreaking that we have come to this, struggling to teach our younger generation. Our language is the key to our survival..we use it to pray, sing songs, story telling, etc.

[@angelany5988]

What do you mean that our language is or survival?

[@kadaso29]

@@angelany5988 I think it means the survival of our culture our culture . I am from a small tribal community and our language is largely how we identify ourselves - and language is culture. And to preserve our identity, and hence our culture, we must preserve our language. Without an identity I, or for that matter everyone, I think, would be a nobody . Or at least for a person who comes from a small community it is so for me and my people.

[@xinchenchen8281]

Thanks for the video! It is hard to imagine if my language(s) were to be banned and disappearing because no one was allowed to speak it anymore. Respect for the people who tried wholeheartedly to save a language and the culture, values, kinship, and other valuable connections behind the language itself.

[@sophiesmith-dore3658]

I find it interesting that my University (Laurentian) has linked to this video in our Culture and Psychology course. Yet, in my nearly four years here, I have only been offered ONE Anishinaabemowin language class at their institution, despite the TRC call to action.

[@JimOverbeckgenius]

God knows all your languages, so they'll never die in High Places. The earth is only a way-station & everything essential goes with you into the Radiant Beyond. I think your fabrics & poles & designs are WONDERFUL & to me it is a great delight to see them.

[@malenabjoseph2877]

Elders nora and John marks were language keepers john marks was fluent in tlingit he try to teach me but I'm Tao good memories he was a word shaman also he told me about the mosquito mask flying around he is my friend please learn every word of tlingit please eyak language is not dead revive it ! It's who we are goodnacheexe

[@imra316]

I started to learn the Lenni Lenope language in hopes to speak it fluently.

[@danielsqueque4591]

..🦊...mesh and stem is our heart of ourselves,...the land gives this ,...if a person earns it ,...i went to other Reservations and asked who ranges and what have they collected,....some people have been waiting a long time,..to say ‘,..i know something ‘,...now the certain people are gone ,..🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾

[@Lilas.Duveteux]

I once met a girl in a psych ward. She told me that as a child, she didn't speak English, only Ojibway.

[@dotdotdotdotdotdotdottod]

i really want to learn hopi my native language

[@dotdotdotdotdotdotdottod]

i cant find anything on it though its very difficult

[@anawkwardsweetpotato4728]

@@dotdotdotdotdotdotdottod This guy's channel has a few Hopi lessons! Hopefully it helps you get a kickstart on your language learning journey. ^_^ kzbin.info/www/bejne/gqG3fn6nptyslZo

[@dotdotdotdotdotdotdottod]

@@anawkwardsweetpotato4728 thank you so much!

[@LYepa]

Can always learn, never too late.

[@khust2993]

The Anglophone specialty, decimating local languages

[@dn2ze]

In Canada everyone pretty much speak their Native language on the rez..every summer we have Culture camps.

[@seanc1745]

Sadly, that's far from true. Most can't speak full sentences, most know just words. "17.2% of the population who had an Aboriginal identity, responded that they were able to conduct a conversation in an Aboriginal language" www12.statcan.gc.ca/nhs-enm/2011/as-sa/99-011-x/99-011-x2011003_1-eng.cfm There is however, a growing interest among youth and the government has stepped forward with some money for language & culture programs on rez (New Paths for Education).

[@dn2ze]

Sean Coghlan-Tolley they just passed a law last year in Canada to help and preserve Native Languages and Culture..

[@user-sj4dk2nk1v]

Bless God you my dear

[@interiorvillagelife]

I have always wondered whether there is any biological link between the Tiwa Community of the Northern Mexico and the Tiwa (Tribal) Community of India.

[@loudpaw8723]

its very sad 😢..

[@quetzalcoatl3242]

I wish all this racist people in America could watch this video and realize that english is a foreign language. And if any language can be claimed as national language that should be a native one.

[@monikvandal9486]

don't give up

[@CrowdPleeza]

Did any Native Americans develop their version of speaking English? This kinda happened with Blacks in the U.S and the Caribbean. You can hear this with the Gullah people of the Sea Islands. kzbin.info/www/bejne/i6bXf3VohN-IoNU

[@Ziastarrecords]

NativeFlix.com is interested in your reel, thank you, please contact me when you have moment ..Great work, grateful, have a good day.

[@injunsun]

While I value the content, "tl" is not "k." It is not "Klinket." It is "Tlinket." Tl together is not K. Please and thank you.