Potawatomi Language Blog

(They Will Learn To Teach)
Language Teacher Training

The Hannahville Indian Community has recently learned that we are the recipient of another three-year federal language grant award from the ACF Administration for Native Americans (ANA). Out of more than 350 applicants this year, only 10 or 11 language projects were funded. We are fortunate that this new grant follows on the heels of our three-year ANA Digital Connections language grant. Now we can move ahead with the new grant to fill a gap in school and community language programs by providing much needed training for Potawatomi language instructors.

The purpose of the new grant is to establish Project Ewikkendaswat Ekenomagewat, a language teacher training initiative. This multi-level language teacher training project will provide current and prospective Potawatomi instructors with essential language teaching skills and hands-on classroom experiences to help create productive and engaging language learning environments in our K-12 tribal school. Companion language content sessions in grammar comprehension and language immersion sessions is intended to help increase conversational fluency and promote authentic classroom lessons. While the primary objective is to provide essential teacher training for language instructors, the project’s overall purpose is to assure successful transmission of the Potawatomi language to students in our tribal school and ultimately throughout the entire community.

Objectives for the three-year Project Ewikkendaswat Ekenomagewat include:

• Years 1, 2 and 3 – A multi-level teacher training project will be launched with learning content areas focused upon (a) understanding essential educational psychology and effective classroom strategies, (b) grammar comprehension, (c) language immersion learning and experience during the nine-month school year, and (d) three weeks of language immersion training sessions during each summer throughout the grant period.
• Years 2 and 3 – Inter-generational events will be organized with culture-based language immersion activities to increase active participation of community members of all ages in productive language learning experiences, and to provide teacher training participants a practical hands-on forum in which to practice, showcase and celebrate emergent language teaching skills.

Community Members who would like to Learn the Language as well as to Learn How to Teach the Language are encouraged to participate in this three-year teacher training project. Trained Potawatomi Language Instructors are urgently needed for teaching in our Tribal School in the coming years. Now is the perfect time for you to plan for a new career! Certificates of Successful Completion will be awarded at the end of the three-year period. Individuals who work within the community may be able to use education hours to attend the full-day class sessions twice a month during the school year.

Contact us today to register for the Language Teacher Training Project! Call 723-2270 for more information or stop into the Potawatomi Heritage Center. Registrations will be accepted during the months of November and December 2009.

Bodewadmi Language Immersion has been scheduled for June, July and August. The Immersion weeks are part of Project Ewikkendaswat Ekenomagewat, a three-year ANA language revitalization project to provide language instructor skills training during the academic school year and summer language immersion camps to increase listening and speaking fluency. Participants have committed to learn, speak and teach the Potawatomi language for future generations.

Registration for Summer Language Immersion is open to community members-at-large, as well as to other Potawatomi Bands. Mornings are spent with the speakers, while afternoons are filled with planned language activities to practice and speak language learned during the morning sessions. Continental breakfast and lunch provided; dinner on your own.

To register, download the electronic Registration Form. Fill it in and click the “send email” button at the top of the form. Alternatively, you may attach it to an email and send it to immersion @ potawatomilanguage.org.

You may download the July Immersion Schedule here.

Download the August Conference Registration.

Download the 2011 Language Conference 11×17 Poster Schedule.

Download the 2011 Gathering of the Potawatomi Nations 11×17 Poster.

If you have questions, call 906-723-2272 or 2273.

JUNE 13 to 17 – Immersion Camp
JULY 11 to 15 – Immersion Camp
AUGUST 9 to 12 – Immersion/Language Conference

Hotel Information:

Island Resort & Casino Hotel – (800) 682-6040
Evergreen Inn – (800) 387-9770
Lincoln Host Motor Inn – (906) 789-6000
Super 8 Motel – (906) 786-1000
Comfort Suites – (906) 786-9630
Econo Lodge – (906) 789-1066
Best Western Pioneer Inn – (906) 786-0602

Gathering Grounds have RV & tent camping available to on a first come first serve basis

The Culture Committee has scheduled the next ShiShiBe event for 12:00 Noon to 5:00 PM, Friday, April 22, 2011 at the Community Center. Everyone is invited to join the fun with this Potawatomi language game activity. The theme for April is Easter.

Mark your calendar! Be prepared. Click HERE to review the vocabulary list. You can LISTEN to – and PRACTICE – the words and phrases that will be called off during the game. You can also download and PRINT the Vocabulary List and a blank ShiShiBe Card directly from the web page. Click HERE to go there now.

ANA: Project Ewikkendaswat Ekenomagewat
SUMMER LANGUAGE IMMERSION CAMP DATES
The Language Instructor Skills Training 2011 Summer Immersion Sessions
are scheduled for the following dates:

JUNE 13 to 17
JULY 11 to 15
AUGUST 9 to 12 (2011 Potawatomi Language Conference)

Registration information will be posted by May 1st.

Project Ewikkendaswat Ekenomagewat is funded by a grant from the Administration for Native Americans (ANA).

Zheton Gdeshkemodesh Gizhek (“Make Your Own Bag Day”) is a great opportunity for the community to get together and make environmental-friendly Dish Bags for the upcoming 2011 Hannahville Potawatomi Gathering. Learn and practice the Potawatomi words and phrases connected to making your dish bag. Hear the teachings for the bowl, spoon and cup – and why we use a dish bag. Participate in the language activities and play games.

Come join in the fun on Saturday, April 9, 2011 from 1:00 PM to 6:00 PM. The first 100 people to register will receive a bag and dishes. Supplies are limited. Call 723-2270.

Click POSTER and FLYER to download more information about the “Zheton Gdeshkemodesh Gizhek” Culture and Language Event. Listen to, and practice, some of the basic vocabulary that will be used during the “Make Your Own Darn Bag Day” event by clicking HERE.

The Culture Committee has scheduled the next ShiShiBe event for 12:00 Noon to 5:00 PM, Sunday, April 17, 2011 at the Community Center. The doors will open at 11:00 AM to fill out your ShiShiBe Cards. Everyone is invited to join the fun with this Potawatomi language game activity.

The theme for April is “Easter” – and the vocabulary and audio wil be online soon. Watch for the update.

The Culture Committee has scheduled the next ShiShiBe event for 12:00 Noon to 5:00 PM, Sunday, November 21, at the Community Center. Everyone is invited to join the fun with this Potawatomi language game activity.

Mark your calendar! Be prepared. Click HERE to review the vocabulary list. You can LISTEN to – and PRACTICE – the words and phrases that will be called off during the game. You can also download and PRINT the Vocabulary List and a blank ShiShiBe Card directly from the web page. Click HERE to go there now.

Photo: (front) Governor Jennifer Granholm; (back, left to right) Dave Anthony, Earl Meshigaud, Dawn Hill, Matt Kurta, Ken Meshigaud and Sen. Mike Prusi.

LANSING—In a signing ceremony this week, Michigan Governor Granholm signed legislation into law that will allow students to get credit for Native American tribal language and culture classes taught by tribal elders rather than traditional certified educators.

Legislation, SB 1014, was introduced by Senate Democratic Leader Mike Prusi to allow Native American tribes to pass on culture, language and heritage. This legislation has now passed by both the Michigan Senate and House, and signed into law on Thursday, September 29, 2010 at a signing ceremony at the State Capitol.

“The Native American community was here in Michigan long before it was settled by European immigrants. It is important that we help preserve and pass along their culture and language to the next generation,” said Sen. Prusi. “This legislation will allow Native American and non-Native American students alike to better understand tribal heritage and get credit for this class as taught by the tribal members who have the most knowledge on the subject.”

The new law will permit the Michigan Department of Education to work with a federally-recognized Native American tribe to allow a tribe, school district, or public school academy to use teachers who did not possess a valid Michigan teaching certificate to teach a Native American tribal language and culture class. The teacher would need to demonstrate a mastery of the tribal language, and the plan would include requirements for renewal or continuing approval of the teacher. The law will enable students to receive credit for a Native American tribal language class and apply it toward their foreign language requirements.

Click Here for Source Information

Photo: (front) Governor Jennifer Granholm; (back, left to right) Dave Anthony, Ken Harrington, Earl Meshigaud, Matt Kurta, Ed Pigeon, Dawn Hill, Flora Jenkins, Ken Meshigaud, John Wernet, Joe McCoy, Sen. Mike Prusi, Adrienne Shipman, Mike McCoy, Teresa Magnuson and Cathy Abramson.

This year’s ANA Language Instructor Skills Training (LIST) will begin on Friday, October 15, 2010. A calendar schedule has already been emailed out to registered training participants. A copy of the new training calendar can be downloaded by clicking HERE. Further announcements and information will be emailed directly to registered participants, as well as being posted here. Please watch for updates.

Other community members have expressed an interest in registering for language instructor skills training. If you are interested, please call 906-723-2272 for information on how you can participate.

TEACHING NATIVE AMERICAN TRIBAL LANGUAGE

Introduced to the Michigan State Senate (12/10/09) by Senator Mike Prusi, SB1014 has successfully navigated the Michigan legislative process. The Native American Language bill was passed by both the Senate (8/11/10) and the House (9/23/10), and now only requires the signature of the Governor to become law.

The bill would allow a teacher without a teaching certificate to teach a Native American tribal language and culture class, and also allow students to fulfill their two-credit world language requirement under the Michigan Merit Curriculum by completing Native American language coursework.

For more detailed information and documentation on this language bill, go to Michigan Legislature – Senate Bill 1014. Legislative analysis is posted at their website, or download it here.

We’ll be playing Shi Shi Be (Potawatomi Bingo) from 12:00 Noon until 4:00 PM on Sunday, September 26th. Plan to join us at the community center for fun games, prizes and good food!

Click HERE to download, print and study the September vocabulary list. And click HERE to LISTEN to the audio for pronunciation.