Tâniwa niya ? / Where am I?
I have been incommunicado for so long I'm not sure any of you out there will bother to check ...
Yet, I write not for fame (or even infamy), but to document a process I know will be important to look back on months and years hence. I guess I also hope this helps inspire would-be adult aboriginal language learners to steel up the nerve to make the leap of faith and begin their own journey.
September. Feels like ages ago when I ventured out to this place seemingly in the middle of nowhere . Now, I feel like I am very much somewhere: surrounded by people passionate about the language , about Nehiyawak (Cree people) in general, and about helping students discover and fulfill their potential.
This wellspring of fulfillment includes me: Blue Quills has been a god-send. I am now looking beyond my scheduled 10 months (note to self: change sub-title of blog) and considering a second year of study. There may also be employment opportunities available with the program to boot! They say if you take risks and stick your neck out to follow your passions, that the universe provides, and when stuff like this happens, you gotta wonder.
Write more wîpac (soon).
ekosi,
Rick
Yet, I write not for fame (or even infamy), but to document a process I know will be important to look back on months and years hence. I guess I also hope this helps inspire would-be adult aboriginal language learners to steel up the nerve to make the leap of faith and begin their own journey.
September. Feels like ages ago when I ventured out to this place seemingly in the middle of nowhere . Now, I feel like I am very much somewhere: surrounded by people passionate about the language , about Nehiyawak (Cree people) in general, and about helping students discover and fulfill their potential.
This wellspring of fulfillment includes me: Blue Quills has been a god-send. I am now looking beyond my scheduled 10 months (note to self: change sub-title of blog) and considering a second year of study. There may also be employment opportunities available with the program to boot! They say if you take risks and stick your neck out to follow your passions, that the universe provides, and when stuff like this happens, you gotta wonder.
Write more wîpac (soon).
ekosi,
Rick
posted by Rick Harp at 10:15 PM
2 Comments:
Some nice words Cree; I agree that we need to take that leap of faith and become passionate about our language.
I fear that our Language will become nothing more than a course that scholars will take in the most distinguished institutions. They will learn a few words, a handful of stories and continue on to their 10:30 class.
Kitâpwan (You speak truly/correctly.)
Anyone who knows me knows my questions around Aboriginal identity, and more specifically Nehiyaw (Cree) identity.
You are right on the money when you say our languages have become the province of specialists "in the most distinguished institutions."
I fear our cultures have become quite compartmentalized, something people do, as you say, before they "continue on to their 10:30 class."
And, make no mistake, I number myself among them.
The answer(s)? Man, that would take a blog in and of itself. Heck, 1000 bloggings.
Thanks for the provocative thoughts.
ekosi,
Rick
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