Language

Navajo Nation Supreme Court Decision in Tsosie v. Deschene

Kate Fort3 Comments

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.

Op/Ed on Pokagon Potawatomi Language Preservation

Matthew L.M. Fletcher1 Comment

From the South Bend Tribune:

Language is among the most important symbols of a culture. And while there may be as many as 50,000 Potawatomi Indians living today in North America, as few as 60 speak their native language. Just five to seven are able to teach it.

The urgency to keep the language from dying away is at the heart of the Pokagon Band’s participation in a federally funded program that now involves between 25 and 30 adults in Lower Michigan.

The area group meets for two hours every Thursday, alternating between classrooms in Dowagiac and Mishawaka.

Their goal, says Matt Morsaw, language specialist, is to produce three semi-fluent speakers over the next three years.

Continue reading →