The Complicated Decisions That Come With Digitizing Indigenous Languages

Reclaiming archival language materials is often framed as a repatriation or re-possession of cultural property. Carson and Jerome would like to present an alternative view, in which archival materials exist as a part of the cultural community, and not as a discrete possession. In this light, working with archival materials exists as a responsibility to our ancestors, community and selves. We seek to position today’s language and cultural revitalization work along a longstanding and intentional effort by our communities to maintain inter-generational knowledge transmission and fulfill our responsibilities as Xvsh (Indian people). We explore the role that linguistics and archival management can play in re-humanizing Native sree-ye’ (hearts and minds), and in strengthening the connection between ancestral generations and today’s community. Our talk will focus on our ongoing work to create a digital archive for Oregon Dene language materials, called Nuu-da’ Mv-ne’ ( ildarchive.org/nuuda ), and our related linguistic and language materials development. Continue Reading https://blogs.uoregon.edu/nativestudies/event/nas-research-colloquium-carson-and-jerome-viles-confederated-tribes-of-siletz-nuu-damv-ne-a-case-study-in-creating-and-utilizing-an-indigenous-language-archive/