3 Responses to ““Dead languages” says Republican”

1. Chuck Says:
   March 17th, 2009 at 1:21 pm

   Ho lecala wotanin ki le blawa, wicasha wan, Gov. Jim Doyle eciap ca mázasķa $250K (Kektopawinge, ehhhh!) he ikce oyate ţaiapi wicakiyukini un woilagya cin ke. Le washte sele k’esh wicasha unma wan, Rep. Scott Suder eciap ca woiyukcan ki le ihpe’e lo shke. Suder éye, “Tákuwe iapi ataginishni un mázasķa ki le eihpeunyanpi kta hwo?” ke. (Washicuiapi ki “iapi ataginishni” ca “iapi t’e” éap). Ho naķun léye “Ikce oyate ki lena casino mázasķa óta káĝap, ca mázasķa ki le yuha ţaipi ki glukinipi kte lo,” kéya shke.

   Ho éash le wicasha ki tanyan iyukcan shni naceca na woţanin áta slolye shni sele. Ikce oyate casino yuhap ki ehani Wisconsin oyate ki casino mázasķa ota wicak’up, na létahan mázasķa ki iapi ki un icupi kta, kéapelo! Ungnash wicasa kle núnge wanice lo. Na naķun laķoliapi glena “t’e” sni! Hécena Ikce Oyate óta ţaipi ki woglakap s’a, ca tóshke leye okihi hwo?

   Óhiniyan washicu ki LaÄ·oÅ£a náinsh Ikce Oyate Å£oka ki woyuha Å£awa ki icupi s’a na he un táku cinpi ki yuhapica sece lo. Tokahe maÄ·oce ki icupi na un owoju káĝapelo. Ho yunÄ·an Å£aÅ£anÄ·a ki áta wicakasotap ca le maÄ·oce ki el tib okihi pelo. Ho na wana Oyate ki casino mázasÄ·a Å£awa ki wáshi un icupi cin sele. Lecala tuwa hemakiye, “U.S. óhiniyan Ikce Oyate takukesh wicak’upi s’a,” ke. Esh ablupte na hewakiye, “Átash wasicu ki tagini LaÄ·oÅ£a wicak’up sni,” epe. Le mázasÄ·a ki Oyate ki Å£awa. He wicak’upo na Rep. Suder inila yanÄ·a nunwe!

2. Chuck Says:
   March 18th, 2009 at 3:29 pm

   Free translation of yesterday’s comment:

   I recently read this article in which Gov. Jim Doyle stated his plan to use $250K to help the indigenous people of his state restore their endangered languages. This is good. However another man, Rep. Scott Suder, rejects this idea. Suder says, “Why are we going to waste money on ‘dead languages’?” He also said, “Tribes make a lot of money on their casinos, so let them use their casino revenues to save their languages.” (*These are paraphrases and not exact quotes).

   Well it seems this man has not thought this through well nor does he have all the facts. The tribes that have casinos have already given the people of Wisconsin much money and it has been stated that the money for indigenous language preservation will in fact come from these funds. Perhaps he wasn’t listening (Lakota: “he has no ears!”)! Not only that, but these languages are not “dead”! Many Indian people still speak their language, so how can he say that?

   Non-Indians have always taken from the Lakota and other tribes in order to get what they need or want. First it was land for farms. Then they killed off nearly all the buffalo so they could live on this land. Now it seems they want to take Indian casino money to provide jobs for themselves. Someone recently said to me, “America always gives Indians whatever they need or want.” But I responded and said, “The Whiteman has never ‘given’ a thing to the Indian.” That money is rightfully Indian money! Give it to them and Rep. Suder hold your peace!

   (Note: Some of the English may sound “off” or incorrect. This is because it is being translated from the original Lakota, which is structured differently and is much richer and more expressive. The Lakota language, which is very much alive, is much more expressive. English is a left brain language; analytical, dry, using logic. Languages such as French or Spanish are right brain and deal with the artistic, romantic and even spiritual. Most languages have elements of both, but Lakota is unique in that it has the ability to do both, and to do it simultaneously!).

   One final comment: If someone comes from, for example Mexico, Germany, France, Ireland, etc. and they forget their language. Say their children or grandchildren don’t speak it and simply assimilate into mainstream “American” culture (materialism, greed, etc.), that’s OK because there are still countries where those languages are spoken and their cultures and customs are practiced. They can go back to the “motherland” and reclaim what they may feel they have lost. But when Native American languages and cultures are gone they’re gone forever…this IS the motherland! Now some like Rep. Suder might like that idea. After all, the American Indian has been called the “conscience of America” and most people will do just about anything (short of doing the right thing) to silence that nagging voice of conscience! Tons of money for AIG bonuses and bailouts for crooks!?! Do the right thing for once! Time to ante up America!

3. Sandy Hatchett Says:
   March 25th, 2009 at 12:15 am

   As a FBI from WKSD, I totally agree with Chuck and applaud his efforts to express what the rest of us feel. Our Lakota language is the most eloquent and spiritual language of all and it is important for us to practice and preserve our language as much as possible. I do this by speaking Lakota to my daughter, Lovey, and even if she doesnt have the full understanding of it spiritual meaning, I get a second chance to pass on oral tradition by explaining to her what it really means. So thank you, Chuck, for your impassioned statement on how much we love our Lakota language and that spending $250 K on language preservation is worth the effort every time. In fact, it should be taught in our schools from kindergarten to high school and beyond and funded by local, state and federal governments. Maybe then, Jim Doyle and Scott Suder might get a clue and remember who lived upon our motherland before they came along.

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