'We want to carry on our native pride'
SEATTLE -- While others are leaving school for the summer, these students will stay in class, as their culture depends on it.
It almost reminds you of an elementary class. One of the first items of business is repeating the alphabet, and counting from one to 10. While there is what appears to be a 6-year-old in the room, the other students are teenagers and adults.
These students will learn more than letters and simple math tonight; they're learning about their culture.
They're part of the Snoqualmie Indian Tribe, and several of them have been enrolled in classes for the past several months to learn their native language and customs. As many tribal elders pass-on, the idea of the classes is to keep these traditions alive.
It's about preservation of the reservation.
"If we don't carry on the tribes' traditions, eventually the whole tribe will be forgotten," says 15-year-old Coco.
"Language is part of the Indian identity," says Gabriel de los Angeles, Education Director for the Snoqualmies. "Without language, we have dances, we have songs, sure, but what is the meaning behind them?"
Several tribes in the Pacific Northwest speak some form of "Lushootseed." A handful of nations, like the Snoqualmies, are now making sure classes are being offered to keep their native tongue alive. That's quite a challenge, because this particular language is oral; it was never written. So, how are they teaching the language today? It took a lot of time and creativity.
"All of this alphabet that we have was made-up, just so we could preserve (and teach) it," says instructor Angela Wimer.
"I've been taking this class for five or six weeks," says Jake, one of the teenagers at the table.
At 15-years-old, there are a lot of other distractions competing for Jake's time.
"The first couple of classes, honestly, I probably thought like I was 'uncool' and all that," Jake said
Does he understand his role in preserving the past?
"I never really thought about it that way," the teen concedes.
Do you ever see yourself teaching others Lushootseed?
"I don't think so," he replies.
Jakes mom is sitting next to him, shaking her head no in disagreement. She proceeds to tell the class how Jake, unintentionally, is teaching his younger siblings. She says without thinking, he points to things and recites the Lushootseed word for them.
This class is more than words. After blessing their instruments by rubbing them with tobacco, class members use the words they've learned in song. Around the drum circle, there's a place for everyone to shine, including Jake.
(Listen to the audio portion of this story to hear his big solo!)
The culture class is fairly new to the Snoqualmies, who weren't federally recognized until 2001. But in their first decade, they're prioritizing, and making sure customs, language, and music aren't forgotten.
"We actually want to carry-on our native pride," says 12 year-old Justina.
"Our maintenance of our languages," de los Angeles begins, "That's what makes us who we are."
It almost reminds you of an elementary class. One of the first items of business is repeating the alphabet, and counting from one to 10. While there is what appears to be a 6-year-old in the room, the other students are teenagers and adults.
These students will learn more than letters and simple math tonight; they're learning about their culture.
They're part of the Snoqualmie Indian Tribe, and several of them have been enrolled in classes for the past several months to learn their native language and customs. As many tribal elders pass-on, the idea of the classes is to keep these traditions alive.
It's about preservation of the reservation.
"If we don't carry on the tribes' traditions, eventually the whole tribe will be forgotten," says 15-year-old Coco.
"Language is part of the Indian identity," says Gabriel de los Angeles, Education Director for the Snoqualmies. "Without language, we have dances, we have songs, sure, but what is the meaning behind them?"
Several tribes in the Pacific Northwest speak some form of "Lushootseed." A handful of nations, like the Snoqualmies, are now making sure classes are being offered to keep their native tongue alive. That's quite a challenge, because this particular language is oral; it was never written. So, how are they teaching the language today? It took a lot of time and creativity.
"All of this alphabet that we have was made-up, just so we could preserve (and teach) it," says instructor Angela Wimer.
"I've been taking this class for five or six weeks," says Jake, one of the teenagers at the table.
At 15-years-old, there are a lot of other distractions competing for Jake's time.
"The first couple of classes, honestly, I probably thought like I was 'uncool' and all that," Jake said
Does he understand his role in preserving the past?
"I never really thought about it that way," the teen concedes.
Do you ever see yourself teaching others Lushootseed?
"I don't think so," he replies.
Jakes mom is sitting next to him, shaking her head no in disagreement. She proceeds to tell the class how Jake, unintentionally, is teaching his younger siblings. She says without thinking, he points to things and recites the Lushootseed word for them.
This class is more than words. After blessing their instruments by rubbing them with tobacco, class members use the words they've learned in song. Around the drum circle, there's a place for everyone to shine, including Jake.
(Listen to the audio portion of this story to hear his big solo!)
The culture class is fairly new to the Snoqualmies, who weren't federally recognized until 2001. But in their first decade, they're prioritizing, and making sure customs, language, and music aren't forgotten.
"We actually want to carry-on our native pride," says 12 year-old Justina.
"Our maintenance of our languages," de los Angeles begins, "That's what makes us who we are."