ABENAKI LANGUAGE PROJECT
Wijokadoak conducted a year long assessment of the Western Abenaki Language under our project lead, Joseph Elie Joubert, a fluent member of the Odanak Band of Abenaki. Talking circles were held and surveys collected from community members in New Hampshire, Vermont and at Odanak, Quebec to gather input from many Abenaki, the results have been tabulated. We compiled the most extensive list of Abenaki language resources known to exist anywhere in the United States and Canada.
Various community members joined us to complete this vital task. Key collaborators were the Winter Center of Indigenous Traditions in Hanover, NH, the Cowasuck Band of Pennacook Abenaki in Alton, NH, the New Hampshire Intertribal Council in Laconia, NH, the Musée des Abénakis d'Odanak in Quebec province, and Jeanne Brink from the Vermont Commission on Native Affairs.
We are sincerely interested in working with all community members regarding interests in preserving/revitalizing the Abenaki language. Our ongoing work in language preservation is found in the links below and on our events page. Please contact us for more information.
Various community members joined us to complete this vital task. Key collaborators were the Winter Center of Indigenous Traditions in Hanover, NH, the Cowasuck Band of Pennacook Abenaki in Alton, NH, the New Hampshire Intertribal Council in Laconia, NH, the Musée des Abénakis d'Odanak in Quebec province, and Jeanne Brink from the Vermont Commission on Native Affairs.
We are sincerely interested in working with all community members regarding interests in preserving/revitalizing the Abenaki language. Our ongoing work in language preservation is found in the links below and on our events page. Please contact us for more information.
LANGUAGE CAMP
A pilot Abenaki Language Camp was conducted by Wijokadoak July 14-18, 2008 in Warner, NH. A few families who are dedicated to supporting their children to learn the language came together to formulate a meaningful program intended for the broader community at a future date.
In 2009 we held a second successful camp in July. Many campers were repeats from the first year, and we had several new families join in. Jesse Bruchac held his own language weekend at N'dakinna Center in Saratoga, NY in June of 2009. Jesse lead the teaching at the 2009 Wijokadoak camp. A meeting of language preservationists, Jeanne Brink, Jesse Bruchac, Sherry and Bill Gould and Denise and Paul Pouliot, was held with Philippe Charland calling in. It was decided that we would expand the programs to include two more, for a total of four language events annually. Paul and Denise agreed to host a weekend in the Fall. Elie Joubert joined with Jesse Bruchac and Philippe Charland at the Pouliot's weekend in Alton, NH and a very successful third language event ended the year.
In 2010 Wijokadoak held the third annual camp July 12-16. In fact all three events were scheduled again, and Jeanne Brink added a forth weekend at her home in Barre, VT in May. The language instruction gets better with each event. Under the watchful eye of Elie Joubert, who has an unequaled command of the language, Jesse Bruchac's energetic, skillful teaching techniques and growing language mastery have brought attendees of each event to a place of conversational skill unimaginable only three years ago. Sherry and Bill Gould brought the focus of the camp to basket making this year. Attendance at the 2010 Wijokadoak camp soared to 50 campers. The combination of language and basket work was a huge success.July 11-15 2011 will mark the fourth annual camp, the Basket Immersion Camp at Wijokadoak headquarters in Warner, NH. This promises to be a banner year, as campers will complete three baskets in three days while speaking only Abenaki! Stay tuned to hear the results of this exciting year!
We are convinced that the reports of the death of our language have been greatly exaggerated. But there is much work to do before revitalization can be realized. It will take the selfless collaboration of many more Abenaki people to accomplish this daunting task. And we must secure adequate funding to see the project through.
This project was generously funded by ANA (Administration for Native Americans),First Nations Development Institute and the NH Council on the Arts.
In 2009 we held a second successful camp in July. Many campers were repeats from the first year, and we had several new families join in. Jesse Bruchac held his own language weekend at N'dakinna Center in Saratoga, NY in June of 2009. Jesse lead the teaching at the 2009 Wijokadoak camp. A meeting of language preservationists, Jeanne Brink, Jesse Bruchac, Sherry and Bill Gould and Denise and Paul Pouliot, was held with Philippe Charland calling in. It was decided that we would expand the programs to include two more, for a total of four language events annually. Paul and Denise agreed to host a weekend in the Fall. Elie Joubert joined with Jesse Bruchac and Philippe Charland at the Pouliot's weekend in Alton, NH and a very successful third language event ended the year.
In 2010 Wijokadoak held the third annual camp July 12-16. In fact all three events were scheduled again, and Jeanne Brink added a forth weekend at her home in Barre, VT in May. The language instruction gets better with each event. Under the watchful eye of Elie Joubert, who has an unequaled command of the language, Jesse Bruchac's energetic, skillful teaching techniques and growing language mastery have brought attendees of each event to a place of conversational skill unimaginable only three years ago. Sherry and Bill Gould brought the focus of the camp to basket making this year. Attendance at the 2010 Wijokadoak camp soared to 50 campers. The combination of language and basket work was a huge success.July 11-15 2011 will mark the fourth annual camp, the Basket Immersion Camp at Wijokadoak headquarters in Warner, NH. This promises to be a banner year, as campers will complete three baskets in three days while speaking only Abenaki! Stay tuned to hear the results of this exciting year!
We are convinced that the reports of the death of our language have been greatly exaggerated. But there is much work to do before revitalization can be realized. It will take the selfless collaboration of many more Abenaki people to accomplish this daunting task. And we must secure adequate funding to see the project through.
This project was generously funded by ANA (Administration for Native Americans),First Nations Development Institute and the NH Council on the Arts.
