Oregon Magazine

June 2006
Tribal Program Preserves Native Language, Culture

By Fred Delkin

Editor's Note: In 2001 Oregon Magazine published an editorial criticizing a Umatilla Reservation program to teach tribal schoolchildre their native language, stating that this effort sidestepped the English language skills these students need for their economic future. This misguided opinion piece was labeled "racist" by a tribal spokesperson. The following describes this program that has obvious cultural worth.

The Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Reservation have combined both private foundation and federal funds to establish a master-apprentice Language Preservation program in the tribal Nixyaawii community school serving grades 9-12 on the reservation just east of Pendleton in northeastern Oregon.

This three-year project partners students with tribal elders still speaking native languages. At project's end dthe apprentices are eligible for licensure by the tribe and the state of Oregon's Teacher Standards and Practices Commission as teachers of Cayuse/Nez Perce, Umatilla and Walla Walla languages.

The Umatilla reservation was established in 1855 by treaty and was united by a single tribal government in 1949. There are currently 2,525 enrolled tribal members and a reservation of 158,000 acres.

We salute tribal chairman Albert Minthorn for his direction of an outstanding effort to maintain tribal heritage. This includes a just-concluded Culture Camp May 15-19 for 40 Nixyaawii students learning traditional tribal values. An "Entrepeneur Workshop" has guided students in specific techniques for starting a business..."strategies for maximizing personal satisfaction and profits." June 15-22 16 students will participate in "journeys in creativity: explorations in Native Art & Culture."

Certainly the Confederated Umatilla tribes are dedicated to guiding their members into a bright future.