AUNTIE: Wa’tkwanonhweráton Greetings, Love, and Respect from us to all of you. Today we are visiting with three amazing women who’ve come together to create Tuscarora Nation’s mighty language programs called Neyekwaweta’tkwáhsheg. Tuscarora Nation, or Skarúre, is located in Western New York and is part of our Haudenosaunee/Rotinonhsyón:ni Confederacy of Six Nations. Some people want to call their language extinct because they lost their last first language speaker – in 2018. But Lynette Printup, Betsy Bissell, Caitlin Phillips and so many others are creating a very different reality. They’ve spent years methodically and joyfully lighting the fire of their language on this territory of about 12 hundred people. Here’s Lynette: LYNETTE: Howdy Hill was our speaker and he would talk to us about the fact that he wanted to live to be 100 years old. That was his goal. He didn't quite make it. That would have been in 2022. But if he had made it he would have been alive to see our first language speakers going through the curriculum. He worked tirelessly. AUNTIE: The group created language opportunities from early, early childhood right through high school and into adulthood. And while we spent much of this visit laughing – there were moments of deep emotion – as in this exchange with Betsy Bissell. KPM: Where are the tears coming from? BETSY: Pride in what they have accomplished. Knowing that our language will continue. During this process we have heard other people say "Oh, Tuscarora language is dead. We heard it was dead. And it's not. I’m host Kahstoserakwathe and we are Yéthi Nisthénha ne Tekaronyakénare – The Aunties Dandelion. We’re thrilled to offer these visits with Indigenous changemakers who are revitalizing their communities through stories of land, language, and relationships. Wa’tkwanonhweráton to the folks at Indigenous Screen Office teyonhkiwihstekénha – who provide the support we need for these important conversations. When you like, share, and comment on these episodes – that helps bring more of these healing stories to you. And as always – we are thrilled you are here to listen to your Aunties.

The Aunties Dandelion

[email protected] (Lynette Printup, Betsy Bissell, Caitlin Phillips, Mariana Hutten Czapski - Audio Correction, Emma Badame - Social Media, Tamara Louks - Production Manager, Kahstoserakwathe, Kahstoserakwathe Paulette Moore)

The Aunties Who Are Saving Tuscarora Language

SEP 25, 202441 MIN
The Aunties Dandelion

The Aunties Who Are Saving Tuscarora Language

SEP 25, 202441 MIN

Description

Nęyękwawęta'θkwáhshek - Tuscarora Language Program

Onkwawénna Kentsyóhkwa - Six Nations Kanyen'ké:ha language program that helped Tuscarora Nation