TULSA,
Okla. Billy Chalakee remembers growing up as a young Muscogee
(Creek) boy listening to his grandparents and parents talk in their
Native language.
Even
the family's church sermons were delivered in Creek. But Chalakee,
72, never really caught on to the language.
"I
never did pick it up," he said. "No one ever stopped to teach me.
I knew some of the words when they asked me a question or talked
to me, and I could understand what they said. But as for getting
into conversation, I couldn't pick it up."
Chalakee
is learning the language as a student in the Okmulgee Muscogee Language
class, and he was recently given an opportunity to take his language
learning to a whole new level while trying his hand at being an
actor.
The
Okmulgee and Tulsa Creek Indian Community language classes, under
the guidance of Jackson Barnett and Thunder Road Theater, have created
two plays that were performed entirely in the Muscogee language
June 20.
Okmulgee
Creek language students Lillian Thomas, Pat Factor, Alfred Harley
and Chalakee star in "Bocv, Hoktvlkogee," which is a comedy set
in a Creek household when Grandma is away and Grandpa is in charge
of making dinner for a visiting preacher.
"I
enjoy being in this class," Chalakee said. "They said you play this
part and I said, 'ok, I'll try.' I think I'm ready. I enjoy the
classes too"
The
other play is performed by the Tulsa Creek Indian Community language
class.
"Nettv
Momen Nere" is based on a traditional story written down by Jackson
Barnett. This story explains how the animals met together to decide
which should be longer, day or night. Based on Barnett's story,
students in the Tulsa Creek Indian Community language class tried
to imagine what the animals in this story might have said and done
as they held their fateful meeting. Actors in the play are Jane
Bardis, Margo Smith, Tallulah Smith and Adam Recvlohe.
Creek
citizen Okcate Smith co-directed the plays with Thunder Road Theater
founder Julie Little Thunder.
"This
is our first time doing a full-out Indian language play," Smith
said. "We've used phrases in other plays and songs, but nothing
that's been totally in Creek or in another Native language."
Smith
said the plays are 10-15 minute plays, but the rehearsals and the
scripts help the students learn more of the language.
"I
think it's really important," Smith said. "It's a really good way
to learn the language. I'm new to the language and I've already
learned so much."
Smith
said plays in other Indian languages would be an effective tool
for tribes to use when teaching the language.
"It
would be a great thing for other tribes to do," Smith said. "We'd
love to facilitate that and help it get under way."
The
Creek plays are being used as a model for future Indian language
plays.
"We've
learned a lot in doing this with people who are new to acting and
are new to the language," Smith said. "We've learned so much from
this experience. We want to have a nice model to help other tribes
get these community projects together and do language plays."
The
project was supported in part by a grant from the Oklahoma Arts
Council.
"It's
been really fulfilling to me because I love theater," Smith said.
"I don't even want to leave at the end (of rehearsal.) It revives
me every time I go to rehearsal."
Smith
said she's excited to share her passion for acting with people.
"Sharing
that with people who may not understand and letting them in on this
neat world of imagination, creativity and the journeys we go on
is fulfilling."
Chalakee
said he hoped he would do well in the play, and was looking forward
to it.
"I'm
excited," Chalakee said. "This is the first time I've ever done
anything like this."
Smith
said Thunder Road Theater invites anyone of any age and any experience
to check out the theater.
Visit
the Thunder Road Theater at web.me.com/thunderroadtheater.
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