LRI-Education envisions skilled, knowledgeable, culturally-grounded, healthy graduates who will achieve their educational goals; empower their communities; and preserve the environment, tribal land, water, and natural resources. As Indigenous peoples we have a controverted and brutal history with the institution of education. Though we were forced into the western academic institutions we have embraced education as a tool; we are incorporating it as part of our survival rather than it incorporating us. 

Matt Remle Wakíƞyaƞ Waánataƞ- LRI-Language Preservation 

Matt Remle Wakíƞyaƞ Waánataƞ  –(Hunkpapa Lakota) lives in Seattle, WA and works for the Marysville/Tulalip school districts Indian education program as a high school liaison. He is an editor and writer for Last Real Indians at www.lastrealindians.com  He is a former organizer with the Community Coalition for Environmental Justice and has worked on various social and environmental justice issues.  He is a father of three and the author of Seattle’s Indigenous Peoples’ Day resolution and recently was awarded Seattle’s 2014 Individual Human Rights Leader award.  His passion lies in the learning, relearning, preservation and the passing on of traditional Native languages to the next generations.  

“Our traditional languages carried, and carry, with them unique worldviews and perspectives that defined a set of values and beliefs about the people’s relationship to the land, cosmos and to one another.  Imbedded in our traditional languages were, and are, rich and complex definitions of roles and responsibilities that shaped the actions of the people.  Colonization’s attempts to sever the languages, and with it a way of living with one another and the land, from our Nations has failed.  Thanks to the ancestors who went underground with the languages they have survived, some undoubtedly barely, but none-the-less are still here and still carrying our ancestral perspectives and worldviews.

LRInspire seeks to promote the resurgence, protection, preservation and passing on of our various Traditional Native Languages.  We will be bringing you stories by various language teachers and languages learners, as well as, be exploring the ways in which our languages shape and foster our views of the world and how to live in it.  We believe that any attempts of decolonization and the exercising of true sovereignty must include the centering of our traditional languages.  Our goal is to inspire a Turtle Island wide resurgence in the urgency to learn, relearn, and pass on our traditional languages to the next generations.  Our ancestors are waiting.”

Mitakuye oyasin

Wakinyan Wa’anatan (Matt Remle)

Tipiziwin Tolman LRI-Language Preservation

Thipiziwin (Yellow Lodge Woman) Tolman, Wiciyena Dakhota and Hunkpapha Lakhota.  Born and Raised on Standing Rock Reservation in Fort Yates, North Dakota.  Currently one of two Lakota Language Activities Instructors in The Lakól’iyapi Wahopí (Lakota Language Nest) based out of Sitting Bull College.

Graduate of Sitting Bull College, with a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Native American Studies.  Graduate of the inaugural cohort of the Lakota Language Education Action Program at Sitting Bull College.

“I am a loyal mother to three, dedicated to my people, my languages, my community and my tiospaye.  I believe that every day is an opportunity to try to be a good relative.

I love my language, love my people, love my land, I love my history, out of the millions of people on this earth, we have the honor of being from Sitting Bull’s people, we have the privilege of being Lakhota and Dakhota.  I believe in the intelligence and capability of the children and people of Standing Rock, and of all indigenous communities, to revitalize, reclaim, restore and maintain their beautiful and Creator given languages.”

Myron Dewey- LRI-Language Preservation

Myron Dewey (Paiute/Shoshone) is the owner and Director of Digital Smoke Signals http://www.digitalsmokesignals.com/ and is involved in efforts to revitalize the Paiute language.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Tulalip Tribes Lushootseed Department- LRI-Language Preservation

The Tulalip Tribes Lushootseed Department is dedicated to increasing awareness of Lushootseed within the community and beyond, as well as to restoring the language to everyday use within the community. http://www.tulaliplushootseed.com/

Nahaan- LRI-Language Preservation

Nahaan Nahaan is of Łingít, Iñupiaq, and Paiute tribes. His work reflects his teachings and cultural background. As a tattoo artist of 5 years and running he focuses exclusively on working within the spirit and design style of northern formline. As a carver, painter and designer he emulates the visual storytelling crafts so dear to his people of Southeast Alaska. He is a spoken word poet and helped to found “Woosh Kinaadeiyeí” in Juneau Alaska which has since grown into a thriving creative mainstay in the capitol city. He teaches the Tlingit language and song, and is the spokesperson for Náakw Dancers, a group which he started in Seattle, Washington in order to perpetuate the rich expressions of the Pacific Northwests native population. He focuses on the aspects of community empowerment and self mastery through the methods of decolonization indigenization and activism.

Shaawano Chad Uran-LRI-Language Preservation

Shaawano Chad Uran (White Earth Anishinaabe) received his PhD in Anthropology in 2012 from the University of Iowa. He did his undergraduate work at the University of Minnesota. He has taught at Bowdoin College in Maine, the University of Victoria in British Columbia, The Evergreen State College in Washington, and the University of Washington. His research areas are: Indigenous language revitalization, language and identity, American cultural studies, language ideologies, American Indian sovereignty, critical theory, Native American studies, and coloniality.