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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 will hold 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 are bringing attendees
of each event to a place of conversational skill unimaginable
only three years ago. Attendance at this years Wijokadoak camp
has grown to 35 confirmed campers with another 10 who have
indicated they may come. We
are all becoming 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.
HISTORY
Joseph Elie Joubert of New York took the lead with language lessons throughout the
week in 2008. He coordinated with Jeanne Brink of
Vermont to develop meaning educational experiences for the families. Jeanne developed activity lessons with word lists associated
with the activity. Elie developed the word lessons from Jeanne's lists. In addition coloring book pages and flash cards were
developed by Sherry Gould to support the lessons. These items are available in the lessons section of this website. Activities
included making leather pouches; weaving brown ash and sweetgrass bookmarks; paddle boating and canoeing on the beaver pond;
learning parts of the body and a nature walk.
Members of the Wabanaki Dance troupe, under the leadership of Jeanne Brink held a dance practice to entertain the rest of the
group with Margaret Higgins of New York singing. John and Donna Moody of Winter Center for Indigenous Traditions from the Upper
Valley worked with Margaret to lead a discussion about making good choices around risk behaviors including how to say no to peer
pressure in Abenaki. Philippe Charland of Montreal, who has considerable skills with the language joined us to help out. Paul
Pouliot Denise Mahegan from the Cowasuck Band of Pennacook Abenaki People brought along some community members and
taught the children
an original Abenaki song about parts of the body; Brian Blanchard of New Hampshire brought his guitar to accompany some evening
campfire songs; Barry Higgins of White Crow Flutes in Massachusetts will preformed some of his beautiful flute music and Tom Wilkins,
his wonderful wife Sue and Mike Franklin, all of New Hampshire brought Tom's drum for an evening of entertainment and great
conversation.
A big thanks goes out to Isabell Blanchard of New Hampshire and North Carolina who fed the crowd all week! Bill Gould also went
above and beyond to get a wonderful place ready for the events with the magic of his excavator. The setting was wonderful.
The success of this pilot project was overwhelming. Check out the pictures of the results of the camp project.
LANGUAGE CAMP ACTIVITIES
LANGUAGE
CAMP PHOTOS
JESSE
BRUCHAC'S WESTERN ABENAKI LANGUAGE SITE
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