Our Approach to Revitalization

As children, we learn by listening and responding, picking up an understanding of words and what they mean. In our work, we cultivate a space where our community members can do the same, not worrying about pronunciation or grammar. Instead, we have indulged in a method developed by mentor and friend Zalmai ʔǝswǝli Zahir, speaker of txʷəlšucid. ʔǝswǝli has developed a practice we call, "reclaiming domains in the context of a language nest."

This concept of "language nest" is a modification of the Maori concept of nesting language IN the children at a daycare. Instead, we nest language in spaces in our homes. It’s a wonderful approach. Everyone has bathrooms, and it’s here that we begin our work, sidestepping the "classroom" and bringing language to life immediately. Command of the language is built by "reclaiming domains," small portions of language use (often activities) like washing hands and brushing teeth. Learners don’t need to "know" the language before using it, rather they post the “script” and learn THRU use. No one needs to "make time" to speak their language, either. Everyday actions are an opportunity to speak (self-narration.) Command of the language is built through the steady reclaiming of actions for our heritage language until the bathroom can be designated a mitsqanaqan only zone. This approach then spreads into the kitchen, the bedroom and beyond.

Another project for us is conversation. We build our ability to converse by beginning with learning how to tell what we did through the day and to listen and hear what others have done. This too, is indulged in without a need to "know" the language before using it. We bite off small portions of conversations, "topics", and build our abilities.

Our partnership with linguist Dr. Timothy Henry-Rodriguez is very helpful. We are dependent on our archival record. We judge our success through network analysis. Is our language use expanding, or contracting? If it is contracting. Why? Let’s find out what we can do to reverse that. We empower our learners to become language hunters themselves. Through their curiosity and activity, they will become contributors to the growing body of accessible language available to our future relatives. Some will be our future teachers.