Boyd Graham addresses students at the Shoshone Community Language Initiative (SCLI) program at Great Basin College. Boyd Graham begins his address by introducing himself to the students, and then he speaks about how there are different dialects among the Shoshone. Afterward, he begins giving a lesson on the Shoshone language which includes going over greetings, different types of animals, different writing styles, verb and consonants, and how different relatives are addressed within the Shoshonean language.
Presented at the 2017 Shoshone Community Language Initiative summer youth program (SCLI 17).
Katherine Blossom addresses students at the Shoshone Community Language Initiative (SCLI) program at Great Basin College. Katherine Blossom begins her discussion by describing the benefits of learning the language. She speaks about how her mother and others were punished at boarding schools for speaking their native language, and as a result she was denied the opportunity to learn it growing up. She then goes on to sing a song on the hand drum. Afterward, she begins to speak about the different native plants and other materials that traditional Western Shoshones would use.
Presented at the 2017 Shoshone Community Language Initiative summer youth program (SCLI 17).
Transcript pending
]]>Alfred Jackson addresses students at the Shoshone Community Language Initiative (SCLI) program at Great Basin College. Alfred Jackson speaks about the decay of the Shoshone culture, but also speaks about the steps necessary to preserve such a unique culture. He also speaks about his experiences growing up in the area, as well as how language is important in keeping up the traditions and values within the Shoshonean culture. He also tells the students about his experience Sun Dancing at different areas within and outside of the Great Basin region.
Presented at the 2017 Shoshone Community Language Initiative summer youth program (SCLI 17).
Transcript pending
Katherine Blossom is a Western Shoshone from Elko, NV. She begins her presentation speaking about how Native Americans have adapted to the land, and that it was the Native Americans duty to pray for all things that exist within this universe. She also speaks about the hardships and horrors that the Western Shoshone people went through in boarding school which included losing their native language – usually by forceful means. As she continues she speaks about the importance of prayer. She also educated her audience about the type of natural plants, herbs, and other items that were used by the indigenous groups in and around the Great Basin region. Katherine also recalls some personal experiences that she has gone through which she shares with her audience.
Video pendingEdith and Adele Fisk are Western Shoshone from Battle Mountain, NV and are currently residing in Elko, NV. Edith and Adele speak about the history of Battle Mountain while they were growing up. They speak about their families and what it was like growing up in a segregated town. For instance, they spoke about how trivial it was speaking a different language at home versus at school. Although, they do speak about how their teacher watched over them like a parent. They also recall their parents’ and grandparents’ stories which referred to contact between the Western Shoshone, emigrants, and U.S. Calvary soldiers as well as the traditional Shoshone tales. They also speak about their genealogy as well as how contact has contributed to the degradation of the Western Shoshonean culture and how doing oral histories and recording stories will help younger generations keep up the Shoshonean culture.
Video pendingThe documents include:
To use these documents, merely download and add the specific information and materials to be used in the class be taught.
For any questions on using these documents, contact Sam Broncho at samuel.broncho@gbcnv.edu.
]]>During the Fall 2016 Shoshone Community Language Teachers Workshop, instructor Samuel Broncho distributed these documents to help community teachers develop curriculum and lesson plans.
The documents include:
To use these documents, merely download and add the specific information and materials to be used in the class be taught.
For any questions on using these documents, contact Sam Broncho at samuel.broncho@gbcnv.edu.
Earl and Beverly Crum speak about the different types of traditional Shoshone songs sung during different ceremonies and events. They speak about how songs are more than just a melody but include a story and sometimes a moral. They also talk about how the language is put together and how it is culturally significant. Earl and Beverly also tell about the customs of the Shoshone Bear dance and hand games as well as provide a tale explaining the hand game: Coyote and the hand game. They play an array of traditional Shoshone songs. Earl describes his childhood in Battle Mountain, Nevada during the Great Depression.
Video pendingInterviewed by Norm Cavanaugh
Transcript Pending
Helen Walker is from Duckwater Reservation near Eureka, NV she had 3 older sisters, 2 brothers, and 1 younger sister. Her family was originally from the Smoky Valley area then they were given a house by the government and started ranching in Duckwater. Her father worked the ranch while she helped her mother garden. She went to Stuart Indian School and learned housekeeping she also lived in a Ranch in Moapa, NV. Later in life she worked at the Senior Center in Duckwater as a cook and took the elders to powwows and to go pine-nutting. She also talks about hand games, sweat lodge and Indian doctoring. She ends by telling us about the Shoshone language class and the young children taking it.
Interviewed by Norm Cavanaugh
Transcript Pending
Interviewed by Norm Cavanaugh
]]>Lester Shaw Jr. was born in Boise, ID and was son to Lester Shaw and Lillian Thomas Shaw. Lester currently resides on the Duck Valley Reservation where he attended school until 1961 and became president of the FFA and participated in various sports. During this period he helped out at his dad’s mom’s ranch pushing cattle, branding horses, and putting-up hay. After he finished High School he worked at Spanish Ranch to save up to attend Haskell Institute in Kansas until he was drafted into the military in 1964. While serving in the military he was sent to Germany and Vietnam during the war, at which time he received the Bronze star and was inducted into the Military Order of the Purple Heart. He also spent much of his life learning masonry which he taught to the youth which he advises to keep up their traditions and Native language.
Interviewed by Norm Cavanaugh