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Native American Language School Hopes To Save Dying Language

By KFBB News Team

Story Created: Feb 10, 2012 at 9:01 AM MDT

Story Updated: Feb 10, 2012 at 9:01 AM MDT

In the small town of Harlem, Montana... new life is being breathed into the dying A'ani language. The White Clay Language Immersion School is at the forefront of the A'ani revival. once on the verge of extinction, the historic Native American language is being given a second chance to flourish.

Michele Lewis, a parent of a former student says about the revival, "The concept of learning your own language, gives you a real sense of identity. it makes you unique not only to the outside world, but unique to yourself."

This year, 26 students are studying A'ani...a record for White Clay. The school currently enrolls students up to the 8th grade.

Traditional classes like math, and science are taught at White Clay, in addition to traditional Native American values, like honor and respect for elders.

"When you start to lose your language, you start to lose the heart of the culture you're in," adds Rebecca Bishop.

Speaking, singing, teaching, sharing A'ani is what director Dr. Lynette Chandler feels is the key to ensuring this piece of Native American history is never forgotten. Nowhere else on Earth is A'ani spoken, and if Dr. Chandler has her way, over time, that will change.

"Historically, native people have not had a good relationship with education. So I wanted to turn that around and make it a holistic experience -basing it first and foremost on bringing back our language, revitalizing it, having it spoken every day, and used every day," Chandler says.



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Anonymous said on Sunday, Feb 12 at 8:03 PM

Great to hear about this school. Help support our film on the topic of saving Native American languages: http://www.indiegogo.com/Lost-Words?a=381435

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