The Northwestern Tribes’ Canoe Journey wrapped up this past weekend in Campbell River. Here’s Matika Wilbur’s beautiful blog documenting the Journey. I was privileged to attend the Muckleshoot landing.
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Muckleshoot Canoe Landing © Ann Tweedy
Language
HuffPo on 13 Issues Facing Native Peoples Beyond Mascots & Casinos
Here’s the article by Julian Brave NoiseCat. Thanks to E.E. for the link.
Yup’ik Translation/Access to Justice Panel, Rural and Safety Justice Conference
This panel explained the difficulties in finding accurate words in the Yup’ik language for court terminology, particularly in cases of sexual assault and domestic violence.
Pictured above: Sophie Alexie, Instructor of Yup’ik Eskimo, University of Fairbanks, Kuskokwim Campus; Oscar Alexie, Assistant Professor Yup’ik Eskimo, University of Fairbanks, Kuskokwim Campus; Mary Beaver, Elder Advocate, Irniamta Ikayurviat-Children’s Advocacy Center at Tundra Women’s Coalition in Bethel; Kari Robinson, Language Access & Rural Domestic Violence Attorney with the Alaska Institute for Justice
Previous coverage here.
Non-Profit Organization Works to Train Interpreters for Yup’ik Speakers in Alaska Courts
In some areas of Alaska many elders and even middle-aged community members grew up with Yup’ik as their first language. The resulting language gap for these individuals has created problems when they are involved in court hearings. To combat these problems, the Alaska Institute for Justice is heading up an effort to train Yup’ik interpreters specifically to work in courts, medical facilities, and other institutions. The experts involved with this training are working to create a Yup’ik legal glossary with an emphasis on words that describe problems such as: sexual assault, child sexual abuse, domestic violence, and parental neglect and abuse.
“Our goal is to make sure that all Alaskans have access to the services that they need regardless of their ability to speak English,” said Robin Bronen, executive director of the justice institute.
Full article available here.
Navajo Nation Supreme Court Decision in Tsosie v. Deschene
Opinion here.
Based on the foregoing, by majority decision, the Court hereby enters a Permanent Writ of Mandamus against the Respondents. Under its administrative duties to implement the Election Code, the NEA is ordered to comply with 11 N.N.C. 44. The ballots are to be immediately reprinted without the name of the disqualified candidate, Christopher C. Deschene. It is unavoidable that the November 4, 2014 election must be postponed as agreed to by the Chief Legislative Counsel, and as permitted by 11 N.N.C. 3 to ensure a valid election.
Briefs posted here.
Navajo SCT Dismisses Chris Deschene Appeal on Procedural Grounds
Here is the opinion.
NYTs Article on Controversy over Navajo Fluency Requirement for Political Candidates
NYTs Web Documentary: ‘Who Speaks Wukchumni?’
Here.
Al Jazeera: “Alaska ballots fraught with issues for Yup’ik speakers”
Here.
NPR Segment Profiles Ojibwe.net
NPR has “For Rare Languages, Social Media Provide New Hope” here.
An excerpt:
The creators and contributors of Ojibwe.net — a website that seeks to preserve Anishinaabemowin, an endangered Native American language from Michigan — use Facebook in a similar manner.
Ojibwe.net contributor Margaret Noodin is an assistant professor of English and American Indian Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. The language has 8,000-10,000 speakers, she says. But most of the native speakers are over 70 years old, placing the language under threat.
“That’s the most dangerous thing. There are very few young kids that are growing up in a fluent environment,” Noodin says.
Turtle Talk 
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