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The
Oneida Language Revitalization Program began in the spring
of 1996 in response to a national crisis, a state of emergency,
in which a survey of Elders indicated there were only 25-30
Elders left who learned to speak Oneida as their first language.
As a Nation we have an urgent need to produce speakers
to continue Oneida Language. When many of us were little,
we heard Oneida spoken all of the time by the old people.
We must ensure that our little ones hear Oneida and learn
to speak Oneida. A ten year plan was developed to connect
Elders with Oneida Language/Culture Trainees in a semi-immersion
process which would produce speakers and teachers of Oneida
language. Our goal is to hear our Oneida language spoken
throughout our community.
In the spring of 1996, ten Elders were transferred to the
Language Revitalization Program and five trainees were transferred
that summer. We have since lost our beloved speaker, Mary
Jourdan. Two of our elders are over 90 years old. Nine Elders
have worked with the Trainees: Lydia Denny, Hudson Doxtator,
Melinda Doxtator, Luella Elm, Leona Smith, Helen Skenandore,
Margaret Summers, Lavinia Webster, and Loretta Webster. The
Elders work with the Trainees every morning in the semi-immersion
process. The Oneida Language Trainees are: Laura
Cornelius, Inez
Skenandore, Carol
Bauman, Curt
Summers, and Randy
Cornelius is the Language and Culture Educator.
An Administration for Native Americans grant, 2002-2004, provided
funding for two new trainees, Vickie
Cornelius and Richard
Baird, and funds for materials development.
It has been an intense five years at 
(the language house) with the Elders and Trainees
spending every morning together in language semi-immersion
sessions. The Elders tested the Trainees speaking abilities
and indicated the Trainees were ready to conduct language
classes for the community. The current weekly schedule of
the Oneida Language Trainees includes two hours per day with
Elders and teaching classes for families, employee departments,
at the Oneida Library and the Oneida Museum, Oneida Nation
School system. A former Trainee, Ken Metoxen, is the the language
teacher for Head Start. The Trainees also provide services
as substitute teachers for Oneida Nation Schools.
In between all these classes, the trainees are busy developing
language lesson plans and creating innovative language teaching
materials. We are fortunate to have access to stories from
the WPA project (1939-1940), the Bilingual program (1970's)
and the work of our precious Elders, Maria Hinton and Amos
Christjohn.
Learning the language creates many positive feelings such
as: learning about being proud to be Oneida, working with
our Elders, really learning listening skills, seeing the joy
on the learners' faces, and feeling a connection with Oneida
people in Canada and New York.
The long range plan includes:
1) official recognition of our Elders as National Treasures,
2)
developing and implementing Oneida Nation Language Teacher
Certification based on competencies in speaking, linguistics,
teaching, curriculum, and materials development,
3)
developing a career path for our youth to become fluent
speakers and teachers,
4)
planning for summer immersion family language camps, and
5)
hearing Oneida language spoken throughout our Nation.
The Winds of Change, magazine article on Native languages
states:
"Of North America's 300-some Native languages, about
210 are still spoken. Very few of the 210 are, however, still
spoken by children. Even Navajo, by far the largest language
group with 200,000 speakers, appears to be in trouble. A generation
ago, 90 percent of Navajo children entering school spoke their
language; today, the reverse is true - 90 percent of Navajo
children entering school speak English, but not Navajo. In
Alaska, only two of the 20 native languages are still spoken
by children and one language - Eyak- has one remaining elderly
speaker."
( Nancy Lord, "Native Tongues," Spring 1999:62)
As Oneida people, it is our responsibility
to carry the Oneida language to the present and future generations.
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