Starting
in September, LaFayette schools will for the first time teach the
Onondagas native language Ongwehonwekha in ninth
grade, a critical step in the Onondaga Nations effort to save
its native language from extinction.
LaFayette High School will be one of a handful of high schools
in the state to offer a Native American language class.
This is a giant step forward for the kids who can continue
learning the language, which helps keep it alive, said Danielle
Rourke, LaFayette High Schools Native American liaison who
works with Onondaga Nation School eighth-graders transitioning to
the high school. You teach it to them when theyre young
and keep working on it because the more you use it, the more its
going to stay around.
The language of the Onondagas was spoken by nearly all the nations
residents until the 1930s. It began to die out, though, because
some Onondagas were ridiculed if they spoke the language at school.
For some time, children werent taught the language. Now
there is a concerted effort among Onondaga leaders to preserve the
language among their youth.
Elaina Powless, 13, said shes thrilled she can continue
learning the language as a freshman. Were just starting
to put together sentences, she said. Having one more
year to learn is great because were losing our language as
time goes on. Not enough people are taking the time to learn it.
Until this fall, Ongwehonwekha was taught only through eighth
grade at the Onondaga Nation School. The class is open to eligible
Native students, meaning theyve passed the Nation Schools
eighth-grade language proficiency exam and have taken three years
of language class at the Nation School or another Haudenosaunee
(pronounced ho-den-oh-SHONE-ee), which means people of the longhouse;
language school. The students have to take another language, as
well, to earn a Regents diploma.
Eventually, the district plans to offer more advanced classes
that would meet the foreign language requirements for a Regents
diploma. First, a curriculum and examination meeting state education
department guidelines would be developed.
It typically takes about three years to develop a comprehensive
language exam, said Mary Holmes, associate for foreign language
with the state education department. Holmes said the state recognizes
there might be languages important to a particular community and
allows curriculums and exams to be written locally if no state ones
are offered. School districts offering the Seneca and Mohawk languages
for Regents credit have developed their own exams.
The proficiency exams dont have to be approved by the
state, Holmes said, but must meet specific criteria. The state can
ask to review the tests at any time.
Experts say Mohawk is the least at-risk native language in New
York, but all of the Iroquois languages are endangered.
Anything we do hopefully will help, said Wendy Gonyea,
an Onondaga Nation resident whose four children graduated from the
Nation School and LaFayette High School. Its really
vital that we preserve our language, and this sounds like its
needed.
The full-year one-credit Onondaga language/culture course is
being written and taught by the three Nation School teachers who
currently teach the class. The 30-minute class counts toward a students
overall grade point average.
Five students have signed up for the ninth-grade class, said
Nation School Principal Carol Erb. They will be bused directly to
the Nation School each morning, then back to the high school.
Erb said the school has wanted to extend its native language
instruction for some time. Before this the kids formal
education in language and culture pretty much ended after eighth
grade, she said.
The course also should smooth Nation School students transition
into the high school, Erb said. Continuing to learn their
language and culture keeps the kids connected, and provides a link
back to us, she said.
Iroquois Languages In School
Eleven school districts in New York offer courses in Native American
languages, according to the state education department. Among them
are:
The Salmon River district in Franklin County and Massena district
offer Mohawk language classes. Salmon River students can earn Regents
credit for taking Mohawk classes. About 30 students take the Regents
each year, according to Principal John Simons. Massena is working
to get Regents credit.
Salamanca, Gowanda, Lake Shore and Silver Creek school districts
in western New York offer Seneca language courses for Regents credit.
The Akron district offers the Seneca language at the elementary
school level.
Tuscarora Elementary in the Niagara-Wheatfield district, north
of Niagara Falls teaches Tuscarora through sixth grade.
LaFayette is the only school district to offer Ongwehonwekha,
pronounced Onway-honway-kah, the language and culture of the Onondagas.
Stockbridge Valley in Oneida County offers non-Regents Oneida
language courses.
Ohwejagehka:
Ha`degaenage:
Ohwejagehka: Ha`degaenage: is a nonprofit organization based on
Six Nations of the Grand River in Ontario Canada that was established
to help preserve and nurture the Iroquoian languages and songs.
http://www.ohwejagehka.com
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